the virtual choir

 

.....

 

oh wow.

i love the community of this idea.

have you seen eric whitacre's fabulous 3700+ acapella virtual choir (with singers from around the globe?) - the most recent concert (water music) earlier this week at the lincoln centre in nyc.

think big! 

happy weekend, lovelies.

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family music night: a super fun DIY project to try

gramophone art print by PragyaK

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we've got a fun new tradition at the rikrak family home!

thanks to my talented brother's great idea & great organizing. we're having bi-monthly family music nights.

it's superfun. super-encouraging & super-easy to DIY!

it's a little like a family talent show, on a regular basis.

now i was so lucky to grow up in a fabulously fun musical family (i know that's not always the way!) and whenever aunts & uncles came to visit from afar there would always be nights of singing and playing and a whole lot of family-sing-song fun!

but whether that's in YOUR past or not, i kinda think family music nights could be something fun for EVERY FAMILY! here's why: 

pluses: 

- it gives everyone in the family a chance to come together. and sing and play and SHINE! regardless of ability or what kind of music you listen to!

- AND it gives us all a deadline to WORK on fun new projects! (you know how having a deadline can help give us the *PUSH* we all need to learn/try/make something new!)

- it's a FABULOUS way to bring generations together! 

- AND need an incentive for your cute kiddies to get practicing their instrument of choice? setting a music night date works like a charm! 

- AND isn't it a great lesson for our kiddies to see us as the adults working on something new? see us practicing? see how we handle it? for certain!

- a wee bit nervous to perform on your own? it's a great way for folks to work together on fun duets, trios and more!

- let's be honest - music brings us together, nicies! enough said!

here's how to do it!: 

what you need: 

- a fun family, or fun friends (no actual musical talent needed - just a LOVE of music!) 

- before you even start, commit to having more than just ONE family music night! that way the pressure is off, you can try something else new the next time! try to commit for at least a few!

- a casual atmosphere - in the living room, around the kitchen table, snacks & treats to munch on.

important: set the date well in advance so everyone has time to work on what they'll play/sing/write/dance to!

how to:

-gather guests on the chosen evening or afternoon!

-be fun and casual

-everyone gets a chance (or two!) to do something musical and fun they've prepped! can't play or sing? well i bet you have a great SONG you can share: just push PLAY on the ipod & have everyone listen! ... at the end, everyone can play and sing together, improv style!

- have fun!

okay - that's it!

case in point: 

the first round, i'll admit - everyone was a wee bit nervous at the rikrak home (even though we're all family - of course everyone wants to do their best!) but it was SUPERFUN! there were great duets and fun jamming and a whole lot of sing-a-longings!

and  this time around, little rikrak has 3 acts he's been working on, including an adorable little song he wrote himself! AND it's wonderful to see mr.rikrak playing his lovely guitar more than he has in years!

love it!

yay to great new family traditions! (and superthanks to my brother for suggesting it!)

what's something fun YOUR family loves to do together? 

share a fun new tradition you're trying!

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brilliant advertising photos: the architecture inside musical instruments

 all images courtesy of the berlin philharmonic

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ah... the art of music!

as small business entrepreneurs we're always talking about the importance of GREAT great photography to advertise our businesses.

so i especially love the way the berlin philharmonic took this idea to heart recently & showcased these AMAZING macro lens photos of the INSIDES of orchestra instruments, for a series of promotional posters. aren't they BRILLIANT?

don't you want to just LIVE inside each one?

talk about unique perspectives! bravo!

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matchmaking

all images by jeanette johns

.........

what a charming matchmaker musician & writer john k. samson is! he's set me up with a wonderful new love: the beautiful work of artist jeanette johns.

samson's  gorgeous new release provincial (you might know his work best from the fabulous  weakerthans  or his amazing lyrical book fame) is all things brilliant  (listen here on paste (my fave: *the last and*). and i'm simply adoring the beautiful cover art by jeanette johns.

isn't her work delightful?

wow.

a perfect pairing. 

what are your favourite pairings of late?
what are you listening to?

(& check out some fabulous classic album design here, too!)

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proud mommying moments: the ukulele

:: darling handmade ukulele-ness ::

clockwise from the top-left corner

nicholasfrith

skylaar

rozenn bothuon

celentanowoodworks

sterainstruments

cherijame

birdandbloke

sometimes crafter

bRainbowshop

cabin no7

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well nicies. i have a new love.

the ukulele, and my little one strumming it!

my smitten-ness has been growing & growing over the past few years. 

but as little rikrak readies for his 1st ukulele concert this week, i can happily confess that it's my new favourite sound: hearing him so cutely strum & sing fabulous folksy hit after fabulous folksy hit!

it's absolutely adorable.

what sound are YOU loving these days?

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playlists & a giveaway: with LaLa! Shoes

i just love a great playlist. i think it stems back to those glorious mixed tapes days where i'd either make, sometimes receive and always always covet a fabulous collection of tunes by various great artists! for me, a personal playlist is a magical grouping of songs. *bliss!* ... so i've asked some wonderful artists if they'd make up a little playlist on a theme for this new rikrak studio series. i thought we might get a glimpse into what musically inspires these fabulous folks... i'm thrilled to present the next: playlists with lalashoes! and check out the other great playlists here.

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i'm smitten.
i'm just enamoured with the beautiful, colourful, whimsical, etheral world that talented footwear artist Daria of LaLa! Shoes creates with her amazing linen & felt home shoes.

a visit to her boutique and i'm whisked away to a home that is vivid and filled with all the right kinds of energy for the kiddies in our lives: wool felt baby shoes in the most luscious colour-combos! and beside them in the shop, women's home shoes in delightful linens that evoke that well-balanced, blissfully content, healthy & happy woman inside each of us.

*swoon!*

wouldn't these be fabulous mother's day gifts? or birthday gifts for a dear friend? or a pair for yourself? how about a baby pair for the wee ones! so sweet!

as a medallist in the handmade olympics, i was thrilled to see world sharing my complete adoration for the style and panache of LaLaShoes! her unique shoes and slippers are, for me, simply perfect. read on for your amazing chance to WIN a pair! woohoo!

and i thought you all might like a little glimpse into the music behind the artistic footworks that are *designed with passion & sewn with care!*

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dj: la la shoes
playlist theme: a mix of the songs I love.

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1. Esbjörn Svensson Trio - From Gagarin's Point of View
One of my favourite pieces by EST - I really feel like floating in space. It's wistful & very calming.

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2. The Pixies - Where is my mind? & Hey
Ha! The whole Band! It was so difficult to choose! Sorry, must be at least 2 songs!
Energizing! They scream when I'm not allowed to!

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3. Radiohead - 2+2=5 & Knives out & Paranoid Android
Again - I could just write - Radiohead "All & Everything". I could listen to them any time!

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4. Miles Davis - Generique / from L'Ascenseur pour l'échafaud
So good, so sad.

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5. Louis Armstrong - What a Wonderful World
This makes me remember Sundays of my childhood - my father used to wake us up with Armstrong on Sundays. Makes me feel sunny and optimistic. Found a funny performance!


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6. Cannonball Adderley feat. Miles Davis - Autumn Leaves
I could listen to jazz all the time - good for everything. Working, reading, cooking, just listening. The genre I enjoy the most.

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7. The Dave Brubeck Quartet - Take Five

Excellent to start the day!

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8. Massive Attack - Karmacoma
Haha, the sexy song :) I found this interesting performance.
Makes me feel powerful. And very focused.

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9. The Shins - Sleeping Lessons

Incredibly cheerful - it's like a huge vitamins shot! Fantastic to match colours for the shoes!

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10. Cinematic Orchestra - The Man With The Movie Camera
Keeps me focused.

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11. Etta James - At Last
I always stop when I hear this song. I can't think or work. Absolutely mesmerizing.

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12. Gershwin plays Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue
Makes me smile. I used to listen it from an old gramophone we had,
head down in the armchair.

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13. Bonobo - Days to Come

Excellent for long working hours! Keeps me focused.
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14. Paris Combo - Fibre de verre
Just hyper! Like me, sometimes.
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15. Dionysos - La Mécanique du Coeur
Our first band together- the funniest thing is that we discover a new French word each time we listen to them, and then feel so proud :) (still learning French!)
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In Daria's words: So hard to make such a short playlist :)

My husband and I both work from home - so we listen to music all the time. He's our DJ! We rarely mix different artists when listening, we almost always play full albums. It gives me rhythm when working, knowing which song is next and staying in one mood for at least 45 minutes.

Sometimes we listen to calm music the whole day, but sometimes we put an "energizing" album on to wake us up! Most of the time music just keeps in tune with the ongoing mood - up, down, calm, screaming, cheerful. It has a great impact on me - one of the most important things in my life, I remember periods of my life by some albums or songs. Well, who doesn't? I enjoy silence, but can't imagine a day without music (especially if it's a working day).

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wonderful stuff! thanks so much for such a fabulous playlist, nicey!
love it!
and now... the moment you've been waiting for...
an amazing giveaway from LaLaShoes!

that's right! one lucky rikrak studio reader
will win a pair of
Pop! Stars shoes
in green, size 18-24 months / EU size 22.
a $52.00 value!

{ the details: They're made of thicker pure wool felt (Oeko-Tex Standard 100% certified) and have 3mm thick soles and eco-leather (leather substitute) no-skid undersoles.}

eep! they're so fantastically sweet! yay!
perfect for spring indoors! yay!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

here's how to enter the giveaway!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1. go visit the wonderful LaLa! Shoes shop!
... take a look around ... come back here and leave a comment in this post about your favourite goodie from her shop & why you love it!= 1 entry

2. leave us a comment about a song you love to listen to all the time!
... = 1 entry

3. visit Daria's vibrant flickr photosteam & add her as a contact.
come back here & tell us.
... = 1 entry.

4. follow LaLa! Shoes on twitter @lalamonde . Come back here and tell us about it!
... 1 entry

5. tweet on twitter
about this giveaway and leave us a link to it in a separate comment here. please be sure to include @therikrakshop so i can find you! :) = 1 more possible entry.

6. blog about this giveaway and leave us a link to it in a separate comment here.
= 1 more possible entry

7. follow or subscribe to the rikrak studio blog
and leave me a comment here telling us that you do! = 1 more possible entry.

8. :: PLEASE NOTE:
each entry must be it's own comment.
thanks! ::

..........................................

:: RULES ::
a) it is possible to have a maximum of 7 entries total per person.
b) please make sure to leave each entry as it's own comment. thanks!
c) using random.org, 1 winner of the LaLa!Shoes giveaway will be chosen on wednesday april 7th @ 9pm EST.
d) please be sure to leave me an email where i can reach you if your account doesn't link to one. thanks.
................................................

have a fabulously vivid day, nicies!

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playlist & a giveaway! with avril loreti

i just adore the gorgeous and fresh and colour-perfect world of avril loreti.

i love the ways in which avril is inspired by beautiful everyday objects and then creates goodies with an uncanny flair for creative design sensibility.

her adorable cocktail napkins, coasters, hankerchiefs & pillows would be a sensational addition to any stylin' home or ensemble. and with the Holidays coming up, there is no end to the folks i know who would ADORE her creations as gifts: hostesses, friends, co-workers, kissing friends, family, etc, etc! and now you can WIN one of her amazing handkerchief sets for yourself! i know - AMAZING! read on, lovelies!

and you can catch avril LIVE this week in Toronto between Nov 12-15 at the Craft Off the Lot show! (it's at 1030 King Street West (at Shaw) .. looks like a fabulous group of artists - so be sure to check it out!

now for a fabulous avril loreti playlist!

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dj: avril loreti
playlist theme: the road trip mix tape playlist

Helen of Troy – Telefon Tel Aviv
Moonlight Desires – Gowan
Fences – Phoenix
Seventeen – Ladytron
Violet – Hole
Kissability – Sonic Youth
Faces – Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Deserter – Matthew Dear
TMNT Mask – Chad VanGaalen
Hold Me – Fleetwood Mac
Gamma Ray – Beck
Legal Man – Belle and Sebastian

in her own words: "My ever-evolving Road Trip Mix is my favourite playlist to work on. It’s always changing depending on season, destination, and reason for getting out of town. It has to start off chill for when you coast out of your driveway, then it has to pick up the pace to something exciting once you hit the highway. It has to cover plenty of genres and ages so that your ‘Trip Co-pilot’ will be like “hun? I would have never thought those ditties could mix so well together”. You also have to throw in some songs that you know really well, along with some not-so-well-known-gems to keep things interesting. It’s a definite must to have a guilty pleasure tucked in there (Yes, Gowan!). Oh and if it’s a really good mix, then it’ll end on the perfect song that you just want to blare out of the car speakers once you’ve hit your destination. That’s my idea of a great Road Trip Mix."

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woohoo! love it, avril! you're my kind of road-tripper! while you're checking out these great tunes, see what avril is offering one lucky rikrak studio reader....

..........................

one lucky reader will win

a set of 4 mustache hankies!
super woohoo! aren't those are the funnest!?
thanks so much, avril!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

here's how to enter the giveaway!

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

1. go visit the lovely avril loreti shop
... take a look around ... come back here and leave a comment in this post about your fave goodie from her shop & why.= 1 entry

2. leave us a comment on YOUR FAVE road trip song to travel to!
... = 1 entry

3. visit the avril loreti blog and leave her a comment on one of the fun posts.
... then come back here and tell us about it. = 1 entry.

4. tweet on twitter
about this giveaway and leave us a link to it in a separate comment here. please be sure to include @therikrakshop so i can find you! :) = 1 more possible entry.

5. blog about this giveaway and leave us a link to it in a separate comment here.= 1 more possible entry

6. follow or subscribe to the rikrak studio blog
and leave me a comment here telling us that you do! = 1 more possible entry.

7. :: PLEASE NOTE:
each entry must be it's own comment.. thanks! ::

..........................................

:: RULES ::
a) it is possible to have a maximum of 6 entries total per person.
b) please make sure to leave each entry as it's own comment. thanks!
c) using random.org, 1 winner of the avril loreti giveaway will be chosen on
monday november 16th @ 9pm EST.
d) please be sure to leave me an email where i can reach you if your account doesn't link to one. thanks.

................................................

i should also note that avril is one of my sponsors, and i'm thrilled to have her!
happy road trips, cuties!
{ps: last day to enter the tomate depingles necklace giveaway today, too! yay free delights!}

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let's make: a wallpaper, a book, a vote & a song

happy monday, sweeties.

well... poor, poor monday.
it always seems to get a bad rap. so i've rounded up 4 fun things for us to do today! let's have some fun!

{and don't forget to enter my kootsac reusable bags giveaway on now here on the blog! one more fun thing to do!}

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#1. let's make: wallpaper
love designing?
love playing with colours?
love patterns and shapes?
ME TOO!

the other day i came across Alluminare, a fun & fabulous wallpaper design site! drop everything and go directly to this fabulously interactive workshop (BEWARE: i found it wonderfully addictive!) where you can design & colour your own fun wallpapers, patterns, etc. for your home or office, and then, if you wish, have the company make them for you! fun fun! {editors note: i didn't buy any paper... i just delighted in playing with the patterns!}

i found this site thru the fabulous designhole who is having a great wallpaper contest on her blog {where you can win 20 square feet of the wallpaper you just designed!}... so head on over there, too!

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#2: let's make: a song
i heard that today launches cbc radio2's fun new contest: the great canadian song quest ... to answer the question: what place in canada deserves its own song?

you can nominate your fave canadian place... and the winning places will have songs commissioned for them, handcrafted by amazing canadian songster superstars we nominate! yay!

good golly! love it!
go canada!

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#3: let's make: a book
thought you might like the fabulous artmind's great tutorial on how to make fabulous little scrap paper books - it's sooo fun! and highly highly addictive! let's go make one! heck... let's make 20!

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#4 : let's make: a vote
last but not least, the wonderful TransCanada Etsy Team has launched our very first monthly challenge... it's a fun Autumn theme! so come on over to the Team blog, check out all of the fabulous handmade entries, and vote for your favourite!

ahem.... #1 sure is cute, eh?
hint hint.... pinecone eco bib... hint hint...
#1...
thanks! :)

see you tomorrow, sweeties! have a great making monday! Pin It

hokey dinah!

a gorgeous little glimpse, thanks to the onion on flickr.

{sorry, no usb cable to upload my own yet!}

hokey dinah!

is there anything better than a rockin' concert?

following on the heels of yesterday's *what i'm working on... * post, thought you might be keen to see what i was doing yesterday when i wasn't working

... that's right. DANCING!

@ the fabulous fabulous U2 360 show in toronto.

heavens to betsy... it was fantastic!

{a funfun little surprise bday gift from mr. rikrak! so fabulous!}

with the skydome (i refuse to call it rogers centre! it's the young growing-up-in-southern-ontario-an-in-the 90's-and-lovin'-the-blue-jays in me!) roof open, the stars blazing, 65000+ dancing fans, and with just about 10 folks between me & mr. rikrak and bono...

let's just say it was alllllll things wonderful.

my oh my!

{ and the handmade lover in me was lovin' bono's rockin' patchwork-y jacket! }

going to see any fun live music shows soon?

which one(s)!

and have a rockin' weekend, lovelies! {don't forget to enter my sponsors giveaway here. they're all rockin', too!}

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playlists: for canada day with darrin davis

i just love a great playlist. i think it stems back to those glorious mixed tapes days where i'd either make, sometimes receive and always always covet a fabulous collection of tunes by various great artists! *bliss!* ... so i've asked some wonderful artists if they'd make up a little playlist on a theme for this rikrak studio series. i thought we might get a glimpse into what musically inspires these fabulous folks... i'm thrilled to present the next in the series. today, on Canada Day, it's playlists: with my wonderful brother, darrin davis: my favourite songs by Canadians.

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records- screenprinted flat notes by heatherjeany

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dj: darrin davis
theme: my favourite songs by Canadians

Neil Young | Barstool Blues
Joni Mitchell | Case of You
Leonard Cohen | Diamonds in The Mine
Oscar Peterson | Canadiana Suite
Hank Snow | I’ve been Everywhere
The Band | Ophelia
The Foggy Hogtown Boys | Stomp of Approval
The Be Good Tanyas | The Littlest Birds
Mr. Something Something | Bike Power!
Brian Macmillan | Another Day
The Donefors | In A Cornfield
The Good Lovelies | Lie Down
Julian Fauth | Flying Crow
Carly and Mark | Where You Live

Other Great Canadian Artists I’ve been listening to this month:
Cindy Doire
Pamela Brennan
The Parkas
Lake of Stew
Jay Clark and the Jones
Diana Catherine
Sarah Burton

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Darrin writes: " I feel very blessed to have been brought up in a country so steeped in great music. Many of my favourite musicians are Canadians, and CBC radio is such a supportive place fostering so many strong talents. Having just recently toured the country for the 1st time, I can truly say that Canadian music lovers are an enthusiastic, loving bunch. (regardless of what Mr. Billy Bob Thorton may ramble on about.) And let’s not forget that the genre we now acquiesce to calling ‘Americana’ was actually created by 4 Canadian boys and their American drummer; a group called The Band. There’s an old wood and steel track running straight through from Hank Snow, to Joni Mitchell, to Oscar Peterson, to Mr. Something Something that connects this beautiful, diverse land with powerful stories, brilliant technical proficiency and funky, danceable rhythms. Happy Canada Day!"

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the strip performing live!

thanks so much, nicey!
i just love love love your canadiana playlist!

folks.. i've gotta tell you...
i just adore that wonderful brother of mine!

not only does that darrin davis has a fabulous ear for great music, (and has pretty much introduced me to at least 1/2 of the wonderful music i've come to love! otherwise i'd just be dancing away to my good old 80's tunes day & night!) ... but he's an amazing musician as well.

i've had the delightful pleasure of seeing his fabulous talent grow from first mastering the sax & guitar @ a very young age, to being such a proud sister as he shines with various bands. he just wows folks with his versatile array of instrumental prowess on a remarkable number of instruments, his fabulous voice, & his amazing songwriting!

darrin's fabulous album
(featuring some of his wonderful artwork, too! woohoo)

i'm so fortunate to have such a fabulous, talented, considerate, friendly, hilarious, handmaking-loving, great-encourager-of-a-brother & dearest friend in him! if you ever have the chance to meet darrin, you're a lucky lucky soul... he's fantastic!.. guaranteed! so torontonians: check here for upcoming show dates & go see him play! it's a great show!

his band, the strip, released their wonderful album last winter, & you can buy it here on indiepool. "fusing jazz, alt-country, folk and rock", it's a glorious listen & zoomed right to the top of the indie music charts! woohoo! so be sure to visit his band's myspace, too, for lots of fun listening! yay handmade music!

so yay to great brothers!
isn't handmade (& canadian!) music grand!
& happy canada day, lovelies.
hope it's filled with fabulous tunes!

::: lovelies: who are your favourite canadian musicians?
tell us! i'll try to include as many as i can in the follow up post! ::

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