::had our little own sectional today... me, desmond, raymond, clement and jun min... practiced American Riversongs... Listened to the mp3... focused mainly on the beginning part... got clarinet 3 soli there.. only thing I'm worried that they don't play loud enough... listening to Clarinet Connexion now.. a clarinet choir... very pro.. made up of mostly adults and professionals... if our my section can sound like that... very beautiful blend of colours... the delicate high range of the Eb with the singing tone of the Bb.. The alto and basses also very nice... strong, but not overpowering... hope that Yong Liang comes on Monday.. then can listen to them... there's these 2 speakers in the band room.. the kinda use in the hall...
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 10:44 pm:.
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::Thursday... Had band practice today.. Sectionals.. Gerald was doing the inventory thing.. so helped him out... practically know each clarinet inside out.. although I can't memerize every single serial number... but I know each clarinet's attributes.. like yong liang's clarinet the 3rd hole on the lower joint was a crack in it.. thomas' thumbrest has a part where the silver has come off.. etc.. then had sectionals, had a practice with the clarinet 3s.. yong liang and benjamin didn't come.. both sick... went very specific with Singapore Rhapsody.. like every single note.. tried to change the tone of the 3 of them.. Nikki and Yew Tat came along.. asked Nikki to show them how its done.. then ask him to comment on Jun Min's tone.. then after a few pointers, his tone dramatically improves.. hope this is not a one time show.. Joseph still got some problems with his articulation.. the staccato not short enough.. doing a staccato on the clarinet isn't easy.. you just need to find the correct embrosure and your ok.. teaching Maxilmillian... he has his own personal clarinet.. brand new E13.. but still doesnt' sound right.. tried to show him how it should sound like.. 15 mins in or so, he got kinda stressed out.. so had him take a break... dunno what happened after that.. continued with him for awhile.. told me he was feeling a little sick...then suddenly just walked away... saw him crying at the entrance to the gallery... asked him what was wrong.. didn't want to tell me.. "You'll feel better if you just say it all out, instead of supressing it.. Is it me?? Is it something I said?" really didn't expected him to react this way.. not that I was impatient or anything.. actually asked him if he ask any problem with this piece.. think I said something about his tone that stroke a chord... consoled him.. luckily Nikki and Yew Tat were there.. great help... Saiful was there too.. said "so prove to him that you tone doesnt' sux..." then hit the back of my head against a pillar that was behind me.. "retribution" Saiful said... haha... We were laughing at me there, and Max still shedding tears... eventually, shook hands and returned back... focused more on Joseph this time.. Joseph the kind who can take this kinda 1 on 1 teaching... he's more willing to laugh at himself and learn.. then had the whole band come together and play... not every one was there, so lotsa empty seats here and there.. Clarinets traditionally has the highest percentage in attendence... Some sec 1s where there.. althought band hasn't offically started for the sec 1s.. these few are really committed enought to stay back and hear us... I was once like that...
Stayed back after band with Max... Waited with him for his parents to fetch him back.. already 7pm... talked... brought along my Red Book today.. actually wanted the entire section to hear the CD.. the one with Eternal Flame and other pop songs for clarinets... Also prepared a CD with some classical clarinet solos... also wanted the whole section to hear.. anyway, lent him the book and the CD... Coincidence or fate??
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 10:06 pm:.
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::Been think alot when school ended... Heard Wen Shao in the gallery playing his Clarinet.. Timothy and Gerald were there... Asked Wen Shao if I could play his instrument for awhile.. Gerald immediately said NO.. Wen Shao continued to play, Orgeon, Canon unes basse (Canon in D)... Seems like nothing only Timothy is asking me, but Gerald too.. "Got girlfriend like that lar..." I just don't understand their mentalities... So what if I know this gal?? Does that make us boyfriend-girlfriend immediately?? For the last time, I don't have a girlfriend... I have friends that are girls... so whats the big fuss about that... I guess this is all due to the way we were brought up... Gerald and Timothy both come from Montfort Junior like I do... Although we were never in the same class... Being in a boys school for 9 years does shape the way the individual thinks and behaves... Deprived of female company (of the same age), I guess makes a guy think narrowly... but not me, even thought I've been in a boys school for such a long time.. mixing with gals isn't any different from mixing with guys... I don't treat them any different.. I'm still myself, not another person.. I already set for myself the core values that make up me since I can start to think for myself.. I don't utter vulgarites, (unlike some of my schoolmates..) those who have been with me would know.. All those vulgarities cannot be learnt.. its all years of influence.. I'm not susceptible to these influences.. I make my own judgement... The harshest word I'll use is "crap" as in "Oh crap, I didn't do my homework.."
Gerald and Timothy both have sisters, I don't.. Even my neighbours are all guys... My cousins are mostly guys... still they behave in this way.. maybe I'm being to judgemental about them.. but this is how I feel.. maybe its curiousity or hormones?? if they put it in another way instead of "Jeremy, you got girlfriend anot??".. maybe "how's you and ____ getting along??" I'll answer... For the record, I had never had any girlfriend or such in my life.. up till now anyway.. just friends.. I'll probably not get into a serious relationship till JC or something..
So Gerald and Timothy left after that.. I just sat there.. listening to Wen Shao.. Laid down on the bench.. he's still playing... so laid there and stared at the ceiling... I'll try to recall as much of the thoughts that went through my head at that time.. my sorta self-reflection.. (doesn't require a mirror to do that you know?) mostly thought about what Gerald said.. what I've wrtitten above... also thought about Gerald's NO.. I really hate taking NO for an answer... My greatest fear is not so much of heights and such.. actually do love heights, rollercoasters especially.. but more of rejection, denial...
So laid there and thought.. watched the fans spin.. got dizzy after that.. closed my eyes.. cleared my mind of school and all that stress.. and just thought... got up. Wen Shao was playing the beginning part of Oregeon.. A slow and sad-sounding part.. Dunno why, but shedded some tears.. not that his playing was tremendously beautiful.. maybe of self-pity... I never show any of my thoughts physically... Suppress them.. Grabbed my bag and walked out of school after that...
Got this sense of hyper-awareness when I go through these deep thoughts.. Met Dave at the gate of the school... waiting for his parent to come fetch him.. asked him where he lives.. Hougang Ave 7 is pretty near here... I could walk there easily... Couldn't be bother with him... Continued my way back home... calmed myself down just by typing all my thoughts out.. feel better already...
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 6:13 pm:.
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::Msn Messenger down at the moment.. even its website is down...
Yesterday went to Parkway Parade.. Coincidently met my cousin and his parents there.. was going to their house later on.. Visit PP quite frequently.. most of the time PP first then my "Ah Gong's" house... He lives in Bedok, my mother's father... Lives with his oldest son family... whom we met at Parkway Parade... He speaks English, so we grandchilden don't have much communication problems... often goes out with his old friends, go town area or something... Visit like once a month or so.. all my materal cousins (mother's side) would come to his 3rd Story HDB flat... sorta big family gathering... most of the times on Sundays.. Friday already a holiday, so we met yesterday.. had dinner there.. me brother didn't come, was still at Dominic's place...
Today.. Had tuition at 11am.. 2nd time there.. haven't known anybody there yet.. 6 people in the class only.. 3 gals, 3 guys... never really talked to the 5 of them... came early today.. then saw the 5 of them waiting outside the class... all like minding their own business, so unfriendly... went back home at bout 12.30pm, played Sid Meier's Pirates! Fun.. lotsa replay value to it.. no one game is the same... I recommend this RPG game... then went out bout 6+.. went to IKEA, haven't been there for a long time.. last time I went there was I was playing in the Kids Room... 6 or 7 I think.. hasn't really changed much.. bought a waste-paper basket.. $3... clear plastic.. can get lotsa ideas on your future home by visiting IKEA, they have model rooms showcasing there products.. real nice...
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 11:18 pm:.
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::Hari Raya today... public holiday! so no school whatsoever... woke up early, about 9+.. Usually I wake at 11,12 for holidays... stupid touch-pad.. dropped my wireless mouse just now, then spoil.. argh.. second time already... buy back the same design the first time... don't buy this model already lar... so easy spoil... thats the trouble with wireless mice.. no wires.. so if you accidently push it off your desk or something, there's no wire to stop it from falling... thats the only thing I hate about wireless mice... so now using me laptop's touch-pad.. playing mine-sweeper with Desmond now... 80+ wins already.. haha Desmond keeps on losing...
Then today went to Jurong Point ... watch Elektra.. don't think its very nice... the story sux.. very superficial... dunno why my father brought us to Jurong Point.. kinda far.. like we got lotsa fuel to burn... the NTU attachment always comes to my mind whenever I visit JP... it's fun.. staying over with friends for 10 days, got to know lotsa new friends.. all from the "smart" schools one... the 1 1/2 hour trips there were fun... haha.. but after a few times, its boring.. wish there was another attachment like that again.. really love University life... hope to get go to oversea's University.. that would be great... woo! but $$ is still the main concern...
Me brother now at my cousin's place, staying over.. Dominic and Kenneth, the one with the indoor swimming pool house? grandparents there too.. they got lotsa extra rooms to spare... house so big... only me and my parents at home...
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 10:56 pm:.
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::Nothing much to blog about the past 2 days... Tomorrow no school.. House now finished repainting... Me room now a bluish colour.. New Blue, thats what it's called.. then my parents room a purple colour.. not that bad... then tha living room also paint, though not so obvious.. about the same colour, without the marks caused by the clock and painting being there for so long... last time we painted was 2000 I think... so due for another paint job I guess..
lived here all my life... didn't move house or anything... changed quite alot from before.. maybe I can find some pics of my house some years ago, looks different.. could even swear that its a diferent house.. the walls and doors give it away though...
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 11:54 pm:.
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::Already the 3rd week of school... Monday's the usual long day... Triple science, double maths... Lit till 4.30pm... then band practice.. went through "From Whom All Blessing Flow"... He says that the title is appropriate for our school... Meticulously went through the song.. Something that our past conductors (except for Mr Tan...) didn't do... Really emphasized on starting together.. Made the Trombone, Trumpet and French Horn sections play just ONE note.. "3, 4 DA.. 2, 3, 4 DA.. 2, 3, 4 DA" repeat until perfect, no cracking, nice sound, balance is right.. more or less they got it after few tries.. then he got the 2 sec 2s of the trumpets to play.. FINE TUNE... and thats the first few bars only... then went came our part.. had us to clap the rhythm.. the dotted rhythm was the challenging part... after a few mins, we sound pretty good.. for the first few bars anyway... I know it gets really boring at times, but it's effective.. but can't rely on him to do this stuff all the time.. this stuff ought to be done at sectionals... after band met the Ex-Co (executive comittee) and the Inner-Com... talked about the sec 1s joining us.. buying of new instruments etc.. and the exchange at Chong Boon... known some of the Chong Boon people through MSN since 2003 I think.. joking suggested that we had an exchange.. that was before Mr Leng got to us.. such luck... ha...
Today- the shorter day.. Bio, came to the topic on Sexual Reproduction in Animals.. think JJS got the question of the year... "Is it natural?" even better was during Physics: Static Electricity "What's a balloon?" He's one of the top students in our class... mainly because he ask lots of questions.. but some of these questions will make you feel like smacking him in the head... Whole of Bio lesson on Male Reproduction System... our Bio teacher best: "make sure you have the correct parts..." haha.. Mr Azman... Wonder what's the situation like when this topic is taught at mixed schools... hmm.. sure is interesting... then didn't have P.E today.. teacher didn't come.. instead, spent the hour in the class... P.E would be the last period for those not taking Lit.. so lotsa people complained.. After Lit, went to play a round of scrabble.. sorta my 2nd CCA.. not exactly.. just play a few games after school, go for competition... CCA points what.. haha
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 6:00 pm:.
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::went to school at 12 today... practiced with the choir for awhile.. then moved out to St Francis Xavier Church... attended the mass.. till bout 4 plus.. then played our school song as a tribute to our late principal... his eldest son spoke for awhile prior to our playing... said that he sang a song to him minutes before he passes away... The Song of the Brave.. our school song... really moved by that... moments like these that make me feel proud to be a Montfortian... although I don't know him, but I feel that his departure is like a part of the school gone...
then went to Compass Point.. Timothy with me in the MRT... he had to meet his sister, so left... should have brought my 2 books to return... didn't plan to go Compass Point.. impluse maybe... or just to kill time... went to the basement.. got some ice-cream.. Anderson's Hazelnut Chip... savoured it on the walk back home.. took over an hour plus I think, took the long way.. walking, it's a good exercise haha..
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 11:26 pm:.
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::well, there goes the week number 2... wed, had lit till 5.. then when came for band pract, learnt that our former principal passed away... was our school from 1970 something to 1989... said that the family cried when he heard that we were gonna perform the school song for them... dunno whether thats true not... his wake's tomorrow... choir would be there too.. sing-a-long... then thurs band pract... Mr Leng really focused on Singapore Rhapsody... like pin-pointing people.. Mr Ng didn't do that.. he just play though.. talk talk... nothing much... I think Mr Leng would get tougher on us as we approach SYF... (still haven't practice on our choice piece...) t
then today.. the "short" day... had social studies and physics, assembly, then school's end... been experimenting with me clarinet for the past 3 days.. tonguing, tone.. trying to get the section to sound as one... alought all rather good.. but the sound produced is all different... then attended Chinese tuition... at serangoon there... 8.30-10... nothing much. just sit there listen, do.. guess it is for my own good... must pass chinese...
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 11:21 pm:.
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::Got selected for the reflections on the tsunami we did during the first week... Surprised Dave didn't get chosen.. Thought his chiemology would strike a chord in the teachers... told me he didn't submit.. Me, Dalton, Alfred and Jun Feng wen down to the theatrette.. Had to rewrite our reflection.. Jun Feng did a song/rap contained some words like "what the hell" "butt" etc.. haha.. suprised himself he got chosen... well rewrote, rewrote twice actually, the one I didn't hand in is below.. The school gonna publish a book with all our reflection.. in our own handwriting.. said it would be more "from the heart"... I rather type it out...
Can't write neatly in the first place... My words sorta bunched up.. Laterally Compressed, if you can say that.. its not that I'm trying to save space or anything, its just how I write... use less paper for compo... but harder to read I guess... When I write slowly or quickly doesn't matter, it still looks the same... This is like my best handwriting...
Skipped the first half of A Maths... touching on Circular Measure, radians etc.. didn't catch the first part about arc length... asked HT.. s=rθ where s=arc length, r=radius, θ=angle in radians.. starting to bore you eh?? ended the day with PE.. no lit, so mon and wed's lit extend to 1½ hours of lit.. !!! did pull-ups for PE.. Did 5.. didn't really try hard...
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 8:36 pm:.
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::The 2nd week of school... first monday we had.. the first day of school didn't have lessons... had biology, chemistry, physics, math and A math all in one day... if we need to carry all the textbooks required, its like taking your entire drawer of books to school.. luckily didn't need to carry textbooks.. bio and chem don't need.. math and A math can share.. that really lightens the load.. 1st chem practical today.. identifying chemicals.. had to record down the salts colour, appearance, solubility etc.. love the colours of the transition metal's salts.. rainbow of colours... the other metals salts like all white... boring.. Lead (II) Iodide bright yellow.. and the most recognizable chemical, Copper (II) Sulphate with its bright blue.. Lit till 5.. suppose that tomorrow won't have lit, so can go home or stay and play soccer or something after PE... then band pract till 7..
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 10:28 pm:.
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::Went to recieve my edusave scholarship award today.. woke up at 8am.. had to reach there by 8.15am... Fortunately, the location was Xinmin Pri School... Just a stone's throw from my house... Brought along the 2 books on evolution I borrowed, less I forget and get fined... haha... was number 195... total there were 400+ people there... all from different schools... mostly from the Hougang region... so half the hall had recieve their awards till my turn... Hardly anyone talked during the presentation, cause all from different schools I think.. So just sat there for my turn... Went up to the stage, shook hands with the MP, took group pic with the MP... I'll scan it in when they mail it to me...
Ended bout 10.45am... thought I would go to Kovan there to eat something... Took 112 from opp. the school to Heartland Mall.. still 11am, mcdonalds still serving its breakfast menu.. then remembered that I brought along my 2 library books to return... forgetful me... zipped down by train to Compass Point... one thing I notice about NEL trains is that.. they are almost EMPTY!! only time I see them pack is when I had to go for the NTU attachment at about 7+... not as packed as the NS and EW lines... even during non-peak hours, I still can't find a seat...
Went to McDonalds to eat lunch... tried out their new beef properity burger... not bad, sort of like McPepper in an elongated bun... Visit McDonalds regularly though... Somehow, I haven't gain a single kg... Think it may be my body's metabolism rate.. Get hungry very quickly... (already hungry right now...) So instead of putting on the flab, I put on the packs... haha.. protein-rich food..
Returned my books.. borrowed 2 new books... one on JavaScript, the other on how things work.. experimenting the JavaScript on this blog...
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 10:02 pm:.
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::woke up not too long ago... slept for the afternoon... today had CCA orientation for the new sec 1s.. well, all the CCAs were there, NPCC, NCC, Scouts etc. Displayed instruments.. Printed out the forms for them to write down their names if they are interested... played Concerto Dynamico and Antonin's New World... performed it for 4 times already... till 11+, started to drizzle.. at least we're inside... got like 3 clarinettist... real nice.. then it would be 3,3,3 when we leave... come to think of it, our batch's the most number of clarinettist... started out with 10, Joel went to Bass Clarinet, Matthew went to Bassoon... Only ONE quitted... Then the sec 3s.. Started with 10, 7 quitted.. real nice... didn't actually wanted to join the clarinets when I was sec 1.. pulled there I guess.. thought to myself, what the heck, just do my best lar... Gave it my best.. Who knew I was gonna be come SL...
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 11:00 pm:.
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::First 3 days of school... Well, Monday was the best... Lotsa changes in the school, new teachers, new way of studying, new timing... Now school offically starts at 8.30am. Home-room system.
Monday- Reached school at about 8.15.. didn't bring much books.. first day of school after all.. Had a speech by the principal at about 10am, between that and 9, free time.. haha.. then recess, an another event at the hall.. about the tsunami.. school was dismissed at 1.30pm.. could have returned home to sleep for the whole day, but couldn't.. had band prac later on.. at 4.. forgotten to bring me file, so made use of the 2 and a half hours before 4 to go home and take me file.. Mr Leng came as planned.. First practice with us.. I think he would have kinda good first impression of us..although the attendence wasn't entirely perfect.. but none-the-less, played pretty well.. but could be further improved... practiced till 7..
Tuesday- First offical day of school... Got our time table on Mon.. Lessons now come in 1-hour blocks.. nothing much of lessons, mostly introductions to some of our new teachers.. only Bio started lessons.. Had PE for the last period, but I've still got Lit lessons after that.. argh.. Being the H.O.D of PE, Mr Faizan could let us play after the 1 hour period.. if not for lit... took height and weight.. didn't change much in my height and weight.. 54kg, 165cm.. same as last year.. Came to Gerald's turn to weigh, everyone was like crowding round him, in anticipation.. (Gerald's one of the "extreme ends" of the class weight range) the needle went one round then stopped.. out of the scales weight range I think, that more than double my weight.. so Gerald's weight is still blank at the moment, until we can find a "suitable" scale.. If you trace Gerald's past, you would see a very steady pattern forming.. If you see his class photos from Pri 1 to 6, you'll know what I mean... Wasn't in the same class with Gerald during any of the 6 years of Primary School, although we're both from Montfort Junior.. Enough about him.. Later he come and squash me.. nooooo... splat.
Today- ALMOST was late for school... just nice woke up at 8am.. that's just enough time to get to school.. drank a cup of milo, and munched on crackers on the walk there.. haha.. If you walk fast, from my house to the school's roughly 5mins.. wasn't late or anything, got there just nice... Saved some crackers.. some 3 hours before recess.. moving between classes could pop one in, some energy... Lit was the last lesson as usual... till 4.30pm... then had sectionals.. one of the worse sectionals occured today.. everyone was like on their own, making noise, not really practicing.. at least my section (the flutes too) were practicing something... before I came, they were practing in pairs, seniors teaching the juniors.. that was good... whole section together was terrible.. can't keep their attention on me... distracted by all sorts of things, mainly the noise.. would rather have our own room to practice as what we did for our very first sectional.. in the Music/IT room.. at least got air-con.. haha.. but the important thing was WE COULD HEAR OURSELVES better than playing and not knowing your mistakes.. was fed up with the sectionals, thought the 3 of them would be able to handle... had the whole band pump... clarinet section extra 10... I think this is the very first instance where I needed to punish the section, including myself... Went home tired
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 11:11 pm:.
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::The first post of the new year... tomorrow school's reopening.. have to go back to school again... already 11.30pm now... at least now can sleep later without fearing too much about waking up late... school hours pushed back to 8.30am instead of 7.30.. well, spent the last few hours of 2004 at keck's house.. with zhi hong, yu bin, lam, alfred, wei nan, lian jie, bernard, jian nan.. brought my Xbox there.. played Fifa soccer thoughout the night... also played metal arms, even with 3 v 1 I still won... 10, 1, 0, 0... haha.. then around 8 or something, played Burnout 3.. everyone starting to wake.. by 10 or something, everyone's playing.. luckily there's a mode called party crash... up to 8 players taking turns to crash a car and see how much damage you can cause.. first few rounds I played.. beat em by a million or so.. without me mostly different people get the highest score... I think alfred has the biggest difference in scores.. last place (him) and the 7th place were like 2million apart... well, I miss 2004 and the events that occured within that year... not gonna dwell too much on that, still gotta do some homework...
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.:JeReMyChAn blogged on 11:31 pm:.
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