Archive for November, 2008

Nov 30 2008

??Keyword: baby shower gifts to make

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??Keyword: baby shower gifts to make
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The Many Ideas To Make A Baby Shower Gift

Baby showers have only been going on in this country for about 200 years. Traditionally, an aunt or a good friend will have a tea or sometimes a brunch in honor of the expectant mother. All of the new mom s relatives and friends are invited to the event. They are expected to bring the new mother a gift for the baby and, thus, the name baby shower was born.

These gifts can be anything related to baby or what the parents might need to help them in caring for the new child. Baby furniture, clothing, bottles, warmers, baby alarm monitors, stuffed animals, toys, diapers, receiving blankets and quilts are the usual items which a new mom will receive at her baby shower. The items differ if this is mom s third or seventh child, but they are still generally all related to the new baby.

Some of the more personal items include the baby gifts that have been hand made. To make a baby shower gift is something that is extremely endearing and special to the new mother and normally will be kept and handed down to the child when he is older. There are many ideas and ways to make baby shower gifts and some of them are very easy to do.

The Baby Blanket

One of the many baby shower gifts to make is a quilt. Every baby needs a baby quilt or a baby blanket. If you sew but do not quilt, than a blanket is the baby shower gift for you to make. Receiving blanket fabric is inexpensive and comes in a multitude of designs and colors. These just need to be sewn around the edges. If you are a quilter, then a baby quilt is the baby shower gift for you to make.

Quilters can buy packages that are designed for baby quilts with all of the squares, needles, thread and instructions included. Making baby shower gifts to sell to others is a way of making a good income for some people. Every expectant mom loves items that look hand made. It s a very homey feeling and inspires the nesting qualities in the new mom.

Another idea to making baby shower gifts is buying a huge basket and decorating it with beautiful ribbons and glitter. You then ask your shower guests to make a baby shower gift, and you put these gifts in the large basket. This is certainly a very personal and thoughtful idea. The creativity that can be put in to making baby shower gifts is endless. It is something that most hostesses should consider when planning a baby shower.

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Nov 29 2008

??Keyword: unique personalized baby gifts

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??Keyword: unique personalized baby gifts
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A Unique Personalized Baby Gift Is A Family Treasure

Each baby is a unique as the family in which it was created. Discovering a unique personalized baby gift for a friend or family member can be a great deal of fun. When shopping for a unique personalized baby gift, it is often best to focus on the hobbies and passions of the parents, as these will have a direct influence on the life of the newborn. By exploring different ideas based upon the expectant parent s likes and dislikes, you will select a unique personalized baby gift that will delight baby and parents alike.

A Uniquely Personalized Baby Gift For The Youngest Golf Fan

Finding a unique gift for anyone is often very difficult, however for expectant golf enthusiasts, there might just be the funniest and most unique gift baby gift for their newest family member. An authentic, personalized golf club that is inscribed with baby s name, date of birth, height and weight. This club is actually sized to fit baby. While a gift of this nature certainly isn t practical, it is a wonderful way to recognize both the parents and their newest arrival.

The Uniquely Personalized Baby Gift For The Artistic Newborn

If the expectant parents are art enthusiasts, a personalized art piece provide appropriate d?cor for the baby s nursery and a personalized heirloom for the family to treasure for years to come. There are many online retail markets that produce top quality art pieces dedication to children; each uniquely personalized baby gift is intended to grow with your child. There are many different companies that provide these artful unique baby gifts, personalized with the newborns name.

If one of the expectant parents is a cultural or history buff, a  100 Good Wishes Quilt is a wonderful unique baby gift that can be personalized with the baby s name and birth statistics. Northern China has a tradition of the Bai Jia Bei or what is called the  100 Good Wishes Quilt . This quilt is based upon the tradition of the Chinese in which the family would contribute material to create a newborn baby s first quilt. It is believed that this quilt of love drew together the positive energy, good will and wishes of love from the family members and blessed the newborn child. A uniquely personalized baby gift such as the  100 Good Wishes Quilt is a great way to celebrate the birth of a newborn; what better way to begin this life than to be surrounded by the love of family and friends and 100 good wishes.

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Nov 28 2008

History of Yoga

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History of Yoga

Several seals that were discovered at the Indus Valley
Civilization sites which date back to 3300 to 1700 BC
show drawings of figures that are in yoga or a
meditative like posture.

There is a great deal of evidence supporting the idea
that these pictures depict a form of ritual discipline
which suggests a precursor of yoga. This was pointed
out by the archaeologist Gregory Possehl.

He also points out the fact that there are sixteen
other “yogi glyptics”. These images point to the fact
that the yoga pose may not only have been used by
deities but also by humans. Possehl makes the
suggestion that yoga dates back to the early
civilization in the Indus Valley.

There is a very widely known image named the Pashupati
seal and it was discovered by John Marshall. He
believed that this was a representation of a
“proto-Shiva” figure.

Most modern authorities do not believe the idea that
this so called “Pashupati” represents a Rudra or Shiva
figure. Gavin Flood states that these views are merely
“speculative”.

He feels that it is not clear from this seal whether
the figure is indeed seated in a yoga posture. He does
not even know if this shape was supposed to represent
a human figure.

There are authorities who do support the idea that
this ?Pashupati?figure does indeed depict a figure in
a meditation or a yoga posture. This idea is supported
by noted archaeologist Jonathan Mark Kenover.

In 2007, terracotta seals were found in the Cholistan
Desert which is located in Pakistan. One of these
seals had three pictographs on one side. When the seal
is turned over, there is a “yogi” on the other side.

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Nov 25 2008

Foods to Avoid While Pregnant

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Foods to Avoid While Pregnant

Almost every woman knows the basic of what they should and should not do during pregnancy. They know that caffeine should be cut back; they should not smoke, drink alcohol or spend time in any hot tubs. However more and more studies are being done to see if pregnant women should avoid certain foods for the duration of their pregnancy.

It is essential that pregnant women eat a well balanced meal at all times to provide their growing baby with the vitamins, nutrients and minerals that the baby needs to grow. There are some foods though that needs to be avoided due to the risk they pose to not just to the mother, but also to the growing baby.

For starters, raw meat needs to be avoided due to the risk of toxoplasmosis and salmonella. This means no more rare steaks, or rare burgers. Pregnant women should take caution and make sure that all of the meat they eat is cooked well done. Cold deli meat should also be avoided because of the risk of listeria. Listeria can cross the placenta and can cause an infection or blood poisoning to the baby. Keep in mind though that deli meat can be reheated until it is steaming and this will help reduce the risk.

Speaking of listeria there are other foods that can contain this bacteria. Some soft cheeses such as brie, feta, and gorgonzola. These cheeses are commonly made with unpasterized milk. Unpasterized milk often contains listeria, so pregnant women need to make sure that any soft cheeses they are going to eat are made with pasteurized milk.

Fish has always been a subject of debate for pregnant women. While some forms of fish contain essential nutrients that are needed by the baby, others contain a high level of mercury. Any fish with a high level of mercury such as shark, swordfish, king mackerel, tilefish and fish used in sushi should be avoided through out pregnancy. Studies have linked mercury to developmental delays and in some cases brain damage. Tuna also contains a lot of mercury but canned, chunk light tuna has a lower amount of mercury and can be eaten in moderation. Raw shellfish also should be avoided through out pregnancy.

Raw eggs or anything containing raw eggs is a no no during pregnancy. There is a potential exposure to salmonella. This means no raw cookie dough, no brownie mix, and some homemade sauces such as hollandaise, Caesar dressing and blue cheese dressing. When dining in a restaurant, it would be wise to ask any sauces or dressings contain any raw eggs. Most restaurants should be using pasteurized eggs in any raw egg recipe but one should still double check.

There has never been a more important time to be careful what a woman eats then when she is pregnant. Some of the above foods have been linked to miscarriages and other birth defects. If you are pregnant and you have already indulged in a few of the foods you should not have, do not panic. Chances are, you and your baby are fine but take extra care to avoid these foods in the future.

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Nov 23 2008

Qualities of a Good Baby Monitor

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Qualities of a Good Baby Monitor

Baby monitors are wonder gadgets for many busy parents. They not only allow them more time to themselves and to work, but most especially, they give them the opportunity to provide for the safety of their children even when they are not right by their side. However, with the many different types available in the market, new parents may find it puzzling to choose which monitor would be the most practical purchase for their budget. And so, with whatever type of monitor you want to purchase ?whether audio, video, digital or analog- here are a few qualities that you should always find in a good monitoring device.

What to Look For in a Baby Monitor

Clarity of the Reception (whether audio or video) and less static is always a good quality for the baby monitor to become effective in child safety. This allows you to clearly hear or see the activities of the child better.

A good monitor must always be handy. A compact and portable monitor will easily provide you with comfort as you carry it around the vicinity. With this, it would be easier for you to keep an eye on the child while working.

A light alarm that activates whenever it picks up sound is always a good feature of the gadget. This becomes very useful in instances wherein you might be preoccupied with loud noises in the area such as the sound of the television or vacuum. This will at least keep you alert and aware if the baby is making noises.

Having an indicator on the gadget that activates whenever the battery is low prevents instances of the battery running out without you knowing. Not having this feature could be very dangerous to the child because one might not notice that something wrong has already happened if the monitor stops working when the battery drains.

In choosing a monitor, the right range or bandwidth must be considered properly. If it would be used in a bigger house, then a wider range is required. A smaller house or apartment might not need as much range especially if one lives in an area where there may be a lot of interference such as cell phones and other monitors that could disrupt the signals. But it is also important to consider the user?s activity, especially if work might require him or her to be of farther distance from the child.

Considering Your Own Needs

Knowing what to look for in a good baby monitor is one thing, but aside from this, it is also important to consider your own needs. Always remember to choose those with features that would fit the type of work that you do in order to make it easier for you to look out for the child.

Also, the family budget in choosing a monitor must also come in mind. If you are decided on getting the best and if you have the means to splurge on high-end monitors, then there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. But if you are on a tighter budget, many good monitors are available in the market for almost just as good the quality at more economical prices.

Baby monitors are the wonder gadgets for parents today. Although the whole process of choosing which type or model to buy may be baffling and many factors may come to your mind, always remember to stick to the basics that keep the gadget effective to its goal in keeping the child safe.

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Nov 21 2008

Can You Reduce Menopausal Weight Gain

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Can You Reduce Menopausal Weight Gain

Women between the ages of 35 and 55 will soon experience menopause. It is not a disease but rather a phase in life where the female will no longer be able to conceive a child. One of the symptoms associated with this phase is weight gain. In fact, 90% of women will gain a few extra pounds which are not a direct result of overeating but rather a shift in your hormones.

Those who are already going through with menopause will probably notice a change in their physical body shape. Majority will gain between 10 to 15 pounds but this will not happen overnight. It will happen gradually like one or two pounds per year during premenopause and a little faster for those who are in early and surgical menopause.

The areas where you will see a physical change will be in the abdomen thus making you look fat when you look at yourself in the mirror. Again, this is not your fault but a fact of life because there are also already fluctuations in your hormones.

To explain this further, you have to understand that hormones do not only affect our behavior but also have a direct impact on our appetite, fat storage and metabolism.

Females have four hormones namely androgen, estrogen, progesterone and testosterone. The first one namely androgen is the one that puts that excess weight around your abdomen. This happens because when you reach androgen, your body produces more of this hormone causing you to gain weight here rather than your hips, thigh or rear.

Estrogen is the hormone responsible for your monthly ovulation. When you reach menopausal age, the level of estrogen that is produced by the body decreases. Because of this, your ovaries need a source of estrogen so it taps your fat cells that have the ability to make this happen. This forces the body to convert calories into fat but since your fat cells are unable to burn calories like your muscles do when you work out, this also causes you pack a few extra pounds.

Another hormone that will also decrease during menopause is your progesterone levels. This causes water retention and bloating. The only good news is that this usually disappears after a few months.

Testosterone is the one that converts lean muscle mass out of the calories you take in from eating. During menopause, this level also drops thus resulting in the loss of this muscle. This will slow down your metabolism thus making it difficult to burn the food you ingested and it too causes weight gain.

Other factors that may cause weight gain during menopause could be attributed to insulin resistance and stress. Insulin resistance occurs when the body converts every calorie into fat. Stress can also make this happen as the body stores calories instead of burning as its way of saving on energy.

So how will you be able to reduce menopausal weight gain? A lot of experts believe that this will be difficult but not impossible. The most obvious is eating a balanced diet. You will have to give up food products that contain refined sugars and switch it to fruits and vegetables. You should also cut back on alcohol, caffeine and nicotine.

As much as possible try to stay active by exercising regularly. Examples of these could be aerobics, cycling, jogging, running and walking that will increase muscle mass and prevent osteoporosis.

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Nov 18 2008

??Keyword: ideas for wedding favors

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??Keyword: ideas for wedding favors
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Ideas For Wedding Favors Can Help Identify The Wedding Theme

When a bride announces her engagement, there are many different things that will happen in the months and days ahead. Traditional engagements last twelve months or longer; this timeline allows the bride to plan her wedding down to the smallest of details. When the engagement is first announced and the wedding date set, it will seem as if there is more time than necessary to prepare. But don t get a false sense of security, the months between the engagement and wedding date will move by at a seemingly breakneck speed, culminating with the day of the wedding.

When the big day finally arrives, it is not uncommon for bride to completely dismiss all the details that once were so monumental during the planning stages. This is in fact common and the healthiest response for a bride to take. However, up until that wedding dress in on, most brides can recite every single aspect of their wedding plans down to the name of the font on their invitations and the exact color of ink on her printed napkins.

The Smallest Detail-Ideas for Wedding Favors That Have A Lasting Impact

Planning a wedding begins and ends with the details, keeping everything centered on one theme. Since the theme is so monumental to the foundation of the wedding plans, it is the first thing that should be decided once a wedding is announced. While the theme is the decision of the bride and groom, remaining on target with the ideas for wedding favors, decorations, invitations, wedding cake topper and wedding programs falls under the responsibility of the wedding planner or the bride herself if she is planning the event.

Often times, locating a thematic wedding favor is more difficult that it might first seem. If planning a wedding and having difficulty coming up with ideas for wedding favors, don t despair. The Internet has created a seemingly endless supply of wedding boutiques that can provide any bride with countless thematic wedding favor ideas for her wedding.

Wedding favor ideas are categorized by theme, once a bride has determined a theme, she can then decided upon which wedding favor ideas best suit her overall vision of the wedding. If a bride is having difficulty deciding upon a wedding theme, visiting a variety of web sites that focus on wedding favor ideas for her wedding might help to narrow down the list of theme ideas and help resolve the dilemma.

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Nov 15 2008

Baby Crying 101

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Baby Crying 101

Communication - that’s what a baby’s crying is for. This sweet thing that suddenly turn into a fit of tears is just craving for your sweeter attention. All cultures in the world nod to this pattern all infants are accustomed to.

A baby cries the most during his or her first three months. Though the amount of crying steadily increase, the crying time period may vary from an hour to most of the day and this could still be considered within normal range. Like, whoah, right? Babies are also known as howling tear factories.

Some thought that a baby cries more during the afternoon accounting it to the anxiousness of the mother or the stressed mood of the father after going home from work. But the most accepted assumption now is that babies have this automatic screening ability they use to shut off all the noise that may stimulate some response from them so they could get enough rest. But in the long run, this filter weakens and totally disappears during the approximate age of six weeks. This, then, make a baby very sensitive to the external factors such as noise, movements, etc. And these generally elicit a reaction from a baby and how best could he or she respond but only through crying.

There are many reasons why a baby succumbs to crying. Deciphering these reasons is the major feat a parent must surmount. Here are some of the things your sweetsome baby is making you understand through crying.

Hunger. Yes, your attention-hungry baby is craving to let you know that his tummy is grumbling. This is the most common reason for a baby to cry, especially, during his early months. The pattern of the hunger howl could be characterized as being persistent, demanding and almost rhythmical. But that rhythm is not at any rate close to becoming musical, of course.

Boredom. What can I say? Aren’t these babies just plain spoiled? Crying because of boredom, errr, I’d find that a bit more twisted or weird if it’s with an adult that is. But babies are really built like this. Crying is their way of telling you, “Hey get me a life here!” Aside from attention and food, consequently, babies need a lot of stimulation. And when they don’t get this, there you get your waaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!!! The trick is to pick the baby up and play with him. This move may be frowned upon by some because of its amounting to spoiling the baby. But it is important to know that stimulation is also one of the major necessities of an infant and it won’t hurt to provide him with some while in his growing age. This boredom cry is said to be also rhythmical and full of sobs and moans.

Discomfort. Pain is another precursor of the baby’s crying. Who won’t cry when in pain, right? Babies are not Major Paynes to endure the most excruciating discomfort they could undergo. They are little, vulnerable beings that need to be attended to when injured or when in an inconvenient situation. This cry could be more persistent, louder and more demanding. Shrieking and screaming, those are words that better describe the crying pattern roused by pain.

Another cause may be disturbance; surely, howling will proceed just when they’re about to sleep or are already fast asleep and suddenly gets surprised by some noise, or movement. An illness that causes discomfort to a baby may also be the reason for a baby’s bursting into fit of tears.

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Nov 13 2008

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Finding the right depression medication

Always feeling under the weather? Always not in the mood to be around others and have a good time? If you?re suffering from prolonged sadness for quite some time now, you should face these bouts of depression and get yourself diagnosed by a psychiatrist, they?re doctors who can actually help you out with your problem. Not to mention the various depression treatments, as well as all sorts of depression medication that doctors prescribe to their depression patients.

Fortunately depression can now be cured, especially when diagnosed early, depressed individuals can actually be treated through therapy and depression medication, although it may be a bit costly, a person?s good mental health is something that shouldn?t be scrimped on. Cognitive behavioral talk or interpersonal talk are incredibly healthy depression treatments that are just some of the available psychosocial depression treatments that cognitive behavior therapists can offer to their patients, both actually prove to be able to produce fruitful and positive results even for just short-term sessions, around ten to twenty weeks are almost always, already enough to get a depression patient slowly begin their recovery towards a sound mental health.

Before getting started with depression medication, the depression patient must first get him or herself to a reputable doctor, get a diagnosis of which type of depression the patient is actually suffering from, may it be clinical depression, manic depression or what-have-you. It?s best that you?re sure what you?re actually dealing with since there are various depression medications that are available in the market, you should make sure that you get the most appropriate one, the one that?ll actually cure your depression illness.

There?s actually a wide variety of anti-depressant depression medications available to help treat those who are suffering from depressive disorders. The more popular ones are those that are of the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors or SSRIs variant then there are the tricyclics while the other popular variant is the monoamine oxidase inhibitors or MAOIs. These depression medications (the SSRIs variant as well as the other newer depression medication available in the market) actually to be a much safer alternative than the tricyclics, since they have fewer side-effects as opposed to the tricyclics depression medication variant.

Sometimes, doctors actually find it more effective to mix up these depression medications, depending on the needs of the individual, the doctor might actually prescribed a variety of depression medication to help cure one?s depression illness. Also the dosages of depression medication can actually be increased or lowered depending on what the doctor finds to be the most effective. However, when it comes to taking these depression medications, patients are highly advised to never mix up depression medications as well as pick out which dosages to take without consulting their doctors first.

Anti-anxiety or sedatives however, should never be mistaken as depression medication. Even though these anti-anxiety drugs are often prescribed along with depression medication, they don?t actually help cure one?s depression illness. Their mere purpose is to help calm one?s nerves which is why depression medications are still needed to be taken by the depression patient.

There are actually some common side-effects from depression medication, usually coming from the tricyclic variety. Some people tend to not mind these side-effects from depression medication, however if it does become to much of a bother and may end up ruining one?s ability to function properly, it?s best to go immediately to your doctor and report the side-effects. Quite common side-effects from depression medication are the following:

Dry mouth: always having the irritating feeling of being hydrated, it?s best to always have some (clean, drinking) water nearby so as to have something to drink whenever dry mouth occurs, chewing sugar free gum as well as brushing your teeth after every meal is also a good idea.

Constipation: cure such discomfort by eating and taking in a lot of fiber to help aid your digestion.

Blurry vision: another temporary side-effect, this one?s quite easy to pass but if it proves to be too much of a bother, consult your doctor immediately.

Headaches: quite common with the newer kinds of depression medication, it?s really not a big deal and will actually go away easily.

Insomnia: first-time users may actually experience this depression medication side-effect but it usually just happens during the first few weeks of taking the depression medication, asking your doctor to lower the dosage of the depression medication may actually help you with this side-effect, as well as the time of day wherein you take your depression medication can actually have something to do with your sleeping problem.

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Nov 09 2008

??Keyword: wedding cookie favors

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??Keyword: wedding cookie favors
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Custom Wedding Cookie Favors

When a bridal couple is looking for wedding favors for the guests there are many options available. Most couples want something that represents their wedding day but also is a nice token of their appreciation for the love and support of their wedding guests. Choosing custom wedding cookie favors is a nice option for the wedding couple. The cookies can add nice d?cor to the wedding reception and the tasty treat well be appreciated by the wedding guests.

Designs For Wedding Cookie Favors

A very popular design for custom wedding cookie favors is a geometric cookie such as a rectangle, diamond, or heart shape to be frosted and decorated with the monogram or names of bridal couple. The cookie can be frosted with the colors of the wedding and can have other decorations such as hearts and bells or the cookie can be sophisticatedly designed with the monogram. The cookies are usually a butter cookie recipe but can be flavored with various flavors. Each cookie can be wrapped individually in plastic wrap and tied with a decorative ribbon. This elegant treat will be a nice finish to the wedding day.

Another nice design for wedding cookie favors are wedding cake cookies. The cookie can be frosted to look like the wedding cake. This will give the guest the opportunity to take a piece of the wedding cake home with them. These cookies are great for the wedding favors and also will be nice to freeze for the first anniversary celebration along with the wedding cake top. It will help to bring back fond memories of the wedding day when the cookies are brought out a year later.

Tuxedo and bridal gown cookies are another nice cookie design for wedding cookie favors. These cookies are cut in the shape of a wedding tuxedo or a brides dress and are decorated accordingly. This is a cute design that will be appreciated by all the guests. A nice addition to these cookies would be to put a tux and gown together and have a label with the couple s new married name of Mr. and Mrs. to signify their wedding union.

A great choice for wedding cookie favors is to have fortune cookies. These cookies can be decorated with a bit of frosting and wrapped as the other cookies. The fortunes in the cookies can be appropriate fortunes for a wedding reception and will bring a lot of fun and conversation to the party. Whether the couple chooses the fortune cookie or another design wedding cookie favors will be a great treat for everyone.

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