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Mar
22
Crimincal case against CT blogger who took pics of Gov at parade dismissed
Filed Under Politics | 2 Comments
This case is another example of ridiculousness. For goodness sakes, America, get a grip. People are news consumers, news makers and news gatherers. This is the 21st century. Get used to it already and stop wasting scarce resources on prosecuting people for doing things that we used to only hear about as being prohibited in third world countries ruled by dictators.
FYI – the alleged offending party (the alleged criminal) is a law student and known political activist. He’s considering whether to file a wrongful arrest lawsuit.
Hattip to Society for Professional Journalists (of which I’m a member, yes, three years going on four), and the Hartford Courant.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:28 pm March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | 2 Comments
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Mar
22
White Hat Shell Game, in their own words
Filed Under Politics | 4 Comments
It took me five tries before I passed the typing test I needed to pass for my first paying job after college. But I did it.
And so I have also, painstakingly, with an emphasis on pain, transcribed the relevant parts of yesterday’s Sound of Ideas, that focused on charter schools and included a panelist from White Hat Management, and the relevant part of today’s Sound of Ideas, which revealed that the White Hat Management panelist lied on the air the day before. I can’t make this stuff up. And believe me, I’m sorry that it’s happened because this man’s performance unfairly mucks things up for valuable education efforts like John Zitzner’s E-City charter school, which was also featured on Sound of Ideas yesterday.
From Wednesday, 3/21/07:
Dan Moulthrop (WCPN): “Can we sort of clear up – just how much profit is White Hat Management making in running 32 charter schools?”
Rod Coker (White Hat VP): “I couldn’t give you an exact figure…”
DM: “Well for the life skills center for which you’re the vice president of that program – can you give us a sense of how much money comes in and how much you make as a profit?”
RC: “No I really couldn’t. Once we get through – and that’s what I think is misunderstood too – it appears as if we’re making a huge amount of profit – once we get through the actual operating costs, the costs of the facilities and all that stuff at the end of the year, the profit really isn’t as great as everyone thinks. I think an article came out years ago about hundreds of millions of dollars or something like that … That is not accurate. When the money comes in, it’s being spent on the schools, on education, on the kids. And so operating the way that we operate as far as taking the dollars that come in and maximizing on how it’s expended and how its saved in certain areas and bargaining on behalf of a number of schools, we’re able to actually use that money to stretch it further to kind of level the playing field in some of the areas where those schools don’t benefit from the extra dollars.”
DM: “Why not structure yourselves as a nonprofit instead? Avoid all that criticism? What do you get out of being a for profit company? Are you getting private investment money, that kind of thing?”
RC: “We do have private investment money as far as if we need it, if it occurs, on behalf of the schools. But what it allows us to do is also, as a for-profit, plug our own money from profits or whatever into a school that needs additional help. Some schools may be performing better than other schools and when a school starts up, it requires more capital outlay. So rather than us pocketing profit, we can take that profit and use it to help another school develop in another community.
And now, as they say on the cable channels, The Reveal, broadcast on today’s Sound of Ideas:
“Last Word” caller message: “The gentleman from White Hat education says they don’t make a lot of money, says they’re not overprofiting but he also can’t answer any questions specific to how much he’s making profit. No one called him on that. Questions were asked, he didn’t answer ‘em. Those answers have to be made.”
Dan Moulthrop: “And indeed that was the most frustrating part of yesterday’s show. When we got off the air, White Hat Management Vice President Rod Coker told me that he does indeed actually know exactly how much profit White Hat makes, but those figures are not something the company discloses. I’m sure we all wish he’d said as much yesterday.”
Hmm. So that’s what ideas sound like to White Hat? No wonder they’re not doing so well with Ohio’s kids.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 10:08 pm March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | 4 Comments
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Mar
22
Pullins takes one from my favorite play, 1776: For God’s Sake, Bob, Sit Down!
Filed Under Politics | 5 Comments
More or less. Here’s Scott Pullins’ open letter to Bob Bennett, pleading with him to get outta here:
Dear Mr. Bennett:
Will you do Ohio Republicans a huge favor and please resign from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections? Heck, you should have never been appointed to the seat in the first place.
Did you really need the $21,000 per year in salary? You are already making over 200k a year as party chairman, before the other bennies. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to place the county chairman, or finance chairman, or executive director, or political director, or someone that was actually connected with the Cuyahoga County Republican Party?
Heck, Bob, you don’t even really live in Cleveland. Don’t you live in that sweet place in German Village that the Ohio GOP pays for every month? Bob, you held your press conference in Columbus. I have had some bad press before, but that was just dumb.
Does it really make sense to pull the Ohio GOP into a legal pissing contest because you are greedy? Is this one of the great principles that Republicans will fight Democrats over in the next couple years? So you can qualify for PERS?
Bob, for the party’s sake, what’s left of it, turn out the lights, shut the door, and call it a day. The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is screwed up royally, and you were in charge. You never fixed it. Just resign, it’s long past due. We Republicans are about taking personal responsibility aren’t we? Aren’t we?
Sincerely,
Scott A. Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
When you gotta agree, you gotta agree. And with this one, I agree.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:53 pm March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | 5 Comments
Print This Post
Mar
22
Crimincal case against CT blogger who took pics of Gov at parade dismissed
Filed Under Politics | 2 Comments
This case is another example of ridiculousness. For goodness sakes, America, get a grip. People are news consumers, news makers and news gatherers. This is the 21st century. Get used to it already and stop wasting scarce resources on prosecuting people for doing things that we used to only hear about as being prohibited in third world countries ruled by dictators.
FYI – the alleged offending party (the alleged criminal) is a law student and known political activist. He’s considering whether to file a wrongful arrest lawsuit.
Hattip to Society for Professional Journalists (of which I’m a member, yes, three years going on four), and the Hartford Courant.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:28 pm March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | 2 Comments
Print This Post
Mar
22
Two down, two to go: Thank you, Loree Soggs, former BOE member
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
And that is sincere. Honestly. From the Plain Dealer:
Labor leader Loree Soggs announced his departure, effective April 2, before Brunner’s scheduled delivery of a complaint against the board. Filing of the complaint begins the process for firing the two holdouts, Chairman Bob Bennett and Sally Florkiewicz.
Soggs, 60, a Democrat, is executive director of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council. His term was to expire next year.
Bob Bennett, Sally Florkiewicz – - what will be your legacy?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:11 pm March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Mar
22
White Hat Shell Game, in their own words
Filed Under Politics | 4 Comments
It took me five tries before I passed the typing test I needed to pass for my first paying job after college. But I did it.
And so I have also, painstakingly, with an emphasis on pain, transcribed the relevant parts of yesterday’s Sound of Ideas, that focused on charter schools and included a panelist from White Hat Management, and the relevant part of today’s Sound of Ideas, which revealed that the White Hat Management panelist lied on the air the day before. I can’t make this stuff up. And believe me, I’m sorry that it’s happened because this man’s performance unfairly mucks things up for valuable education efforts like John Zitzner’s E-City charter school, which was also featured on Sound of Ideas yesterday.
From Wednesday, 3/21/07:
Dan Moulthrop (WCPN): “Can we sort of clear up – just how much profit is White Hat Management making in running 32 charter schools?”
Rod Coker (White Hat VP): “I couldn’t give you an exact figure…”
DM: “Well for the life skills center for which you’re the vice president of that program – can you give us a sense of how much money comes in and how much you make as a profit?”
RC: “No I really couldn’t. Once we get through – and that’s what I think is misunderstood too – it appears as if we’re making a huge amount of profit – once we get through the actual operating costs, the costs of the facilities and all that stuff at the end of the year, the profit really isn’t as great as everyone thinks. I think an article came out years ago about hundreds of millions of dollars or something like that … That is not accurate. When the money comes in, it’s being spent on the schools, on education, on the kids. And so operating the way that we operate as far as taking the dollars that come in and maximizing on how it’s expended and how its saved in certain areas and bargaining on behalf of a number of schools, we’re able to actually use that money to stretch it further to kind of level the playing field in some of the areas where those schools don’t benefit from the extra dollars.”
DM: “Why not structure yourselves as a nonprofit instead? Avoid all that criticism? What do you get out of being a for profit company? Are you getting private investment money, that kind of thing?”
RC: “We do have private investment money as far as if we need it, if it occurs, on behalf of the schools. But what it allows us to do is also, as a for-profit, plug our own money from profits or whatever into a school that needs additional help. Some schools may be performing better than other schools and when a school starts up, it requires more capital outlay. So rather than us pocketing profit, we can take that profit and use it to help another school develop in another community.
And now, as they say on the cable channels, The Reveal, broadcast on today’s Sound of Ideas:
“Last Word” caller message: “The gentleman from White Hat education says they don’t make a lot of money, says they’re not overprofiting but he also can’t answer any questions specific to how much he’s making profit. No one called him on that. Questions were asked, he didn’t answer ‘em. Those answers have to be made.”
Dan Moulthrop: “And indeed that was the most frustrating part of yesterday’s show. When we got off the air, White Hat Management Vice President Rod Coker told me that he does indeed actually know exactly how much profit White Hat makes, but those figures are not something the company discloses. I’m sure we all wish he’d said as much yesterday.”
Hmm. So that’s what ideas sound like to White Hat? No wonder they’re not doing so well with Ohio’s kids.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 7:08 pm March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | 4 Comments
Print This Post
Mar
22
Pullins takes one from my favorite play, 1776: For God’s Sake, Bob, Sit Down!
Filed Under Politics | 5 Comments
More or less. Here’s Scott Pullins’ open letter to Bob Bennett, pleading with him to get outta here:
Dear Mr. Bennett:
Will you do Ohio Republicans a huge favor and please resign from the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections? Heck, you should have never been appointed to the seat in the first place.
Did you really need the $21,000 per year in salary? You are already making over 200k a year as party chairman, before the other bennies. Wouldn’t it have made more sense to place the county chairman, or finance chairman, or executive director, or political director, or someone that was actually connected with the Cuyahoga County Republican Party?
Heck, Bob, you don’t even really live in Cleveland. Don’t you live in that sweet place in German Village that the Ohio GOP pays for every month? Bob, you held your press conference in Columbus. I have had some bad press before, but that was just dumb.
Does it really make sense to pull the Ohio GOP into a legal pissing contest because you are greedy? Is this one of the great principles that Republicans will fight Democrats over in the next couple years? So you can qualify for PERS?
Bob, for the party’s sake, what’s left of it, turn out the lights, shut the door, and call it a day. The Cuyahoga County Board of Elections is screwed up royally, and you were in charge. You never fixed it. Just resign, it’s long past due. We Republicans are about taking personal responsibility aren’t we? Aren’t we?
Sincerely,
Scott A. Pullins, Esq.
Publisher,
The Pullins Report
When you gotta agree, you gotta agree. And with this one, I agree.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:53 pm March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | 5 Comments
Print This Post
Mar
22
Two down, two to go: Thank you, Loree Soggs, former BOE member
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
And that is sincere. Honestly. From the Plain Dealer:
Labor leader Loree Soggs announced his departure, effective April 2, before Brunner’s scheduled delivery of a complaint against the board. Filing of the complaint begins the process for firing the two holdouts, Chairman Bob Bennett and Sally Florkiewicz.
Soggs, 60, a Democrat, is executive director of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council. His term was to expire next year.
Bob Bennett, Sally Florkiewicz – - what will be your legacy?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 3:11 pm March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | Comments Off
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Mar
22
O.M.G. What the hell is wrong with these people? State Rep. Josh Mandel, I am begging you to please, please, please reconsider all the support you get from these folks.
Here’s the deal:
As I posted yesterday, the White Hat Management rep on WCPN’s Sound of Ideas yesterday said that he didn’t know how much profit White Hat made on its for-profit schools, nor did he know how much was spent on operations.
Well, on today’s Sound of Ideas, which you can listen to here, Dan Moulthrop tells listeners that after the show went off the air, Mr. Rod Coker informed Dan that he, Rod Coker, knows exactly how much is made and goes into operations, but that White Hat doesn’t disclose that information.
Hello – calling Eye on the Statehouse? And Mr. Hansen – head of the Buckeye Institute – who says he wants to dump the Ohio Department of Education? You support liars like White Hat’s Rod Coker? Those are the types of people you want to entrust my tax dollars to, for educating my kids? Over my extremely cold, dead body, Mr. Hansen.
Why the hell didn’t this man just say what he knew on the air? Because he knows how indefensible it is that White Hat “doesn’t disclose” their numbers. Total, complete BS. He’s under orders to sound like a complete nincompoop rather than give up the holy grail of how much White Hat makes and gives to politicians?
I am IRATE.
Call me a blogger. Call me anything you want that you think will hurt me – but I do not lie on the broadcast of a public service news show about EDUCATION.
What an effing insult to Ohioans.
David Brennan should, at the very least, fire this man.
Man I am angry!
Update:
Can you believe me, Ms. Write Whomever You Can Whenever You Can forgot to include email addresses for White Hat!? What an oversight:
Here are two addresses to write to and describe your dismay, disgust and distaste for entities that allow spokespeople – and employees of the entity – to lie to listeners of a radio show about education:
BTenenbaum@themilenthalgroup.com (White Hat’s PR/Media group)
info@whitehatmgmt.com (White Hat’s general info email)
By Jill Miller Zimon at 1:58 pm March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | 13 Comments
Print This Post
Mar
22
Cuyahoga BOE: Throw the baby out with the bathwater and do NOT refill from the same spigot
Filed Under Politics | 4 Comments
The Silent Majority posted this entry today (written by an anonymous contributor) called, “The Deal that’s Holding Cuyahoga County Hostage.”
Let me say this about that: ignore every single one of these people as possible Cuyahoga County Board of Elections members or director:
Bob Bennett
Rob Frost
Bob Spada
Jim Trakas
Tom Patton
plus Jimmy Dimora whom I was told last night is angling to get on the BOE,
THEN: let Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner do her job, for goodness sakes.
I can’t even say that the last thing we want to do is have all these political party people on the Board of Elections – anarchy would be better (though I don’t know how different it would look). Who’s idea was it to have such politics involved in what should be an entity held accountable by and to the voters of this county? Not an ordinary voter’s idea, that’s for sure.
Personally, I have nothing but good words for Rob Frost, and primarily nothing but good words for Bob Spada and Jim Trakas, my current state senator and former state representative respectively. Bob Bennett – not so many good words, but I have seen him in better form (like at the Beachwood presentation I attended after the November elections).
But this jockeying and posturing and posing is just plain old Ann Coulter schoolyard b.s. and, like the vapid language used by bullies, does nothing to advance or enhance the elections process or rebuild the completely nonexistent trust that the people of this county need to have in its BOE.
Brunner is right: perception has overwhelmed process and we need a clean, apolitical start. There’s no room for selfishness on the part of politicians when it comes to protecting the one thing every Cuyahoga County voter should guard with selfishness: their vote.
In honor of the show I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change: We might have learned to love you, you might have been perfect if the system weren’t so saturated with politics, now get out of the picture.
If anyone wants to nominate some more babies, from any point on the political spectrum, feel free to throw them out too.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:57 pm March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | 4 Comments
Print This Post
Mar
22
Two down, two to go: Thank you, Loree Soggs, former BOE member
Filed Under Politics | Comments Off
And that is sincere. Honestly. From the Plain Dealer:
Labor leader Loree Soggs announced his departure, effective April 2, before Brunner’s scheduled delivery of a complaint against the board. Filing of the complaint begins the process for firing the two holdouts, Chairman Bob Bennett and Sally Florkiewicz.
Soggs, 60, a Democrat, is executive director of the Cleveland Building and Construction Trades Council. His term was to expire next year.
Bob Bennett, Sally Florkiewicz – - what will be your legacy?
By Jill Miller Zimon at 12:11 pm March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | Comments Off
Print This Post
Mar
22
O.M.G. What the hell is wrong with these people? State Rep. Josh Mandel, I am begging you to please, please, please reconsider all the support you get from these folks.
Here’s the deal:
As I posted yesterday, the White Hat Management rep on WCPN’s Sound of Ideas yesterday said that he didn’t know how much profit White Hat made on its for-profit schools, nor did he know how much was spent on operations.
Well, on today’s Sound of Ideas, which you can listen to here, Dan Moulthrop tells listeners that after the show went off the air, Mr. Rod Coker informed Dan that he, Rod Coker, knows exactly how much is made and goes into operations, but that White Hat doesn’t disclose that information.
Hello – calling Eye on the Statehouse? And Mr. Hansen – head of the Buckeye Institute – who says he wants to dump the Ohio Department of Education? You support liars like White Hat’s Rod Coker? Those are the types of people you want to entrust my tax dollars to, for educating my kids? Over my extremely cold, dead body, Mr. Hansen.
Why the hell didn’t this man just say what he knew on the air? Because he knows how indefensible it is that White Hat “doesn’t disclose” their numbers. Total, complete BS. He’s under orders to sound like a complete nincompoop rather than give up the holy grail of how much White Hat makes and gives to politicians?
I am IRATE.
Call me a blogger. Call me anything you want that you think will hurt me – but I do not lie on the broadcast of a public service news show about EDUCATION.
What an effing insult to Ohioans.
David Brennan should, at the very least, fire this man.
Man I am angry!
Update:
Can you believe me, Ms. Write Whomever You Can Whenever You Can forgot to include email addresses for White Hat!? What an oversight:
Here are two addresses to write to and describe your dismay, disgust and distaste for entities that allow spokespeople – and employees of the entity – to lie to listeners of a radio show about education:
BTenenbaum@themilenthalgroup.com (White Hat’s PR/Media group)
info@whitehatmgmt.com (White Hat’s general info email)
By Jill Miller Zimon at 9:58 am March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | 10 Comments
Print This Post
Mar
22
Cuyahoga BOE: Throw the baby out with the bathwater and do NOT refill from the same spigot
Filed Under Politics | 4 Comments
The Silent Majority posted this entry today (written by an anonymous contributor) called, “The Deal that’s Holding Cuyahoga County Hostage.”
Let me say this about that: ignore every single one of these people as possible Cuyahoga County Board of Elections members or director:
Bob Bennett
Rob Frost
Bob Spada
Jim Trakas
Tom Patton
plus Jimmy Dimora whom I was told last night is angling to get on the BOE,
THEN: let Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner do her job, for goodness sakes.
I can’t even say that the last thing we want to do is have all these political party people on the Board of Elections – anarchy would be better (though I don’t know how different it would look). Who’s idea was it to have such politics involved in what should be an entity held accountable by and to the voters of this county? Not an ordinary voter’s idea, that’s for sure.
Personally, I have nothing but good words for Rob Frost, and primarily nothing but good words for Bob Spada and Jim Trakas, my current state senator and former state representative respectively. Bob Bennett – not so many good words, but I have seen him in better form (like at the Beachwood presentation I attended after the November elections).
But this jockeying and posturing and posing is just plain old Ann Coulter schoolyard b.s. and, like the vapid language used by bullies, does nothing to advance or enhance the elections process or rebuild the completely nonexistent trust that the people of this county need to have in its BOE.
Brunner is right: perception has overwhelmed process and we need a clean, apolitical start. There’s no room for selfishness on the part of politicians when it comes to protecting the one thing every Cuyahoga County voter should guard with selfishness: their vote.
In honor of the show I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change: We might have learned to love you, you might have been perfect if the system weren’t so saturated with politics, now get out of the picture.
If anyone wants to nominate some more babies, from any point on the political spectrum, feel free to throw them out too.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 8:57 am March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | 4 Comments
Print This Post
Mar
22
O.M.G. What the hell is wrong with these people? State Rep. Josh Mandel, I am begging you to please, please, please reconsider all the support you get from these folks.
Here’s the deal:
As I posted yesterday, the White Hat Management rep on WCPN’s Sound of Ideas yesterday said that he didn’t know how much profit White Hat made on its for-profit schools, nor did he know how much was spent on operations.
Well, on today’s Sound of Ideas, which you can listen to here, Dan Moulthrop tells listeners that after the show went off the air, Mr. Rod Coker informed Dan that he, Rod Coker, knows exactly how much is made and goes into operations, but that White Hat doesn’t disclose that information.
Hello – calling Eye on the Statehouse? And Mr. Hansen – head of the Buckeye Institute – who says he wants to dump the Ohio Department of Education? You support liars like White Hat’s Rod Coker? Those are the types of people you want to entrust my tax dollars to, for educating my kids? Over my extremely cold, dead body, Mr. Hansen.
Why the hell didn’t this man just say what he knew on the air? Because he knows how indefensible it is that White Hat “doesn’t disclose” their numbers. Total, complete BS. He’s under orders to sound like a complete nincompoop rather than give up the holy grail of how much White Hat makes and gives to politicians?
I am IRATE.
Call me a blogger. Call me anything you want that you think will hurt me – but I do not lie on the broadcast of a public service news show about EDUCATION.
What an effing insult to Ohioans.
David Brennan should, at the very least, fire this man.
Man I am angry!
Update:
Can you believe me, Ms. Write Whomever You Can Whenever You Can forgot to include email addresses for White Hat!? What an oversight:
Here are two addresses to write to and describe your dismay, disgust and distaste for entities that allow spokespeople – and employees of the entity – to lie to listeners of a radio show about education:
BTenenbaum@themilenthalgroup.com (White Hat’s PR/Media group)
info@whitehatmgmt.com (White Hat’s general info email)
By Jill Miller Zimon at 6:58 am March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | 10 Comments
Print This Post
Mar
22
Cuyahoga BOE: Throw the baby out with the bathwater and do NOT refill from the same spigot
Filed Under Politics | 4 Comments
The Silent Majority posted this entry today (written by an anonymous contributor) called, “The Deal that’s Holding Cuyahoga County Hostage.”
Let me say this about that: ignore every single one of these people as possible Cuyahoga County Board of Elections members or director:
Bob Bennett
Rob Frost
Bob Spada
Jim Trakas
Tom Patton
plus Jimmy Dimora whom I was told last night is angling to get on the BOE,
THEN: let Secretary of State Jennifer Brunner do her job, for goodness sakes.
I can’t even say that the last thing we want to do is have all these political party people on the Board of Elections – anarchy would be better (though I don’t know how different it would look). Who’s idea was it to have such politics involved in what should be an entity held accountable by and to the voters of this county? Not an ordinary voter’s idea, that’s for sure.
Personally, I have nothing but good words for Rob Frost, and primarily nothing but good words for Bob Spada and Jim Trakas, my current state senator and former state representative respectively. Bob Bennett – not so many good words, but I have seen him in better form (like at the Beachwood presentation I attended after the November elections).
But this jockeying and posturing and posing is just plain old Ann Coulter schoolyard b.s. and, like the vapid language used by bullies, does nothing to advance or enhance the elections process or rebuild the completely nonexistent trust that the people of this county need to have in its BOE.
Brunner is right: perception has overwhelmed process and we need a clean, apolitical start. There’s no room for selfishness on the part of politicians when it comes to protecting the one thing every Cuyahoga County voter should guard with selfishness: their vote.
In honor of the show I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change: We might have learned to love you, you might have been perfect if the system weren’t so saturated with politics, now get out of the picture.
If anyone wants to nominate some more babies, from any point on the political spectrum, feel free to throw them out too.
By Jill Miller Zimon at 5:57 am March 22nd, 2007 in Politics | 4 Comments
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