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Out & About #1183 | Unexpected Koreatown Hangout Feat. Photo Signature + Damda

6/29/2026

Venturing downtown on a humid Monday led me to eliminate one bag for the commute: Biking while donning full UV protection would be too stifling. That said, I remained true to my resolve in sharing baked goods with the office. A cooler bag brimming with brownies, mini choux attempts, and craquelin-topped rolls was non-negotiable for my only in-office day of the week.

Throughout the day, minimal work was accomplished, which was expected of a week comprising of a statutory holiday. I visited the Union Samples booth thrice throughout the day, obtaining packets of ground coffee, coconut water, and hot sauce that I quickly gifted to a coworker.

Having been intrigued by the banana pudding poster within Craig's Cookies, I ventured inward.

Enticed by the sweet aroma of warm cookies and caramelized sugar, a Rainbow Rice Krispie Cookie was procured.

Consistent in their usage of salted butter and an extraordinary amount of sugar, the cookie sent me into immediate satiation. For the next few hours, my appetite was distinctly suppressed.

Around lunchtime, I had received notice that post-work plans were cancelled due to a change in the community centre's summer activity schedules. Being without a change of clothes for dance class and also without a bike helmet for city exploration, I quickly sought out the availability of a downtown local. Miraculously, our schedules aligned!

Without a moment's hesitation, I proposed my Koreatown itinerary: photobooths at Photo Signature, karaoke, and Korean fare at her go-to destination of Damda. This suggestion was received with enthusiasm, and off we went!

Photo Signature housed a total of four booths: 3 Classic with baby blue, grey, and pink backdrops (similar to Hama Film) and 1 High Angle. Surprisingly, most visitors made a beeline for the Classics, leaving the High Angle free of queues. Pricing was consistent with other photobooths, with 4-cut strips at $10, some alternative layouts at $15, and 4-cut grides at $20. Unlike photoism, I was incredibly thankful that payment could be made using either cash or card.

The variety of accessories was impressive as well, spanning Sanrio plushies, gargantuan flower headbands, and even flags and a trophy in honour of FIFA.

Complimentary photo sleeves were offered to us by the friendly staff member on site. She then gestured towards the counter where stickers and other art supplies could be used to trim and decorate the photos. For an additional $3.99, cut-outs could also be formed into a mini photo keychain! I mentally took note of this for a future visit with my browsing partner.

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Out & About #1182 | Brownies, Mini Choux with Chocolate Cream + Craquelin Pineapple Bun

6/28/2026

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The frenzy of baking continued from the weekends past. A round of brownies was undertaken as a surprise for my baking coworker, but only after the batch had emerged from the oven was I informed of her imminent two-week absence from the office.

1) Brownies

Amusing, and somewhat unnerving, are the minor deviations that materialize from iterations of the same recipe. Be it a swap in olive oil brand, instant espresso powder vs. instant coffee granules, a new vs. old container of cocoa powder, or batch size, there is always a subtle surprise that catches my off-guard.

Doubling the recipe for The Brownies To End All Brownies resulted in two 8 in x 8 in portions. One pan contained noticeably more batter. Both baked up well in 40 mins, though the edges were a tad darker than desired. The bottoms were also prone to detaching due to the difference in moisture content.

While a toothpick had returned mostly clean, the inclusion of olive oil ensured that the brownies remained moist.
It goes without saying that this moistness would dissipate gradually over the subsequent days, but the intensity of the brownies was maintained - likely reinforced by the small amount of instant coffee.

Beating the eggs with both granulated and dark brown sugar had yielded a crunchy surface, yet not one boasting the signature glossy appearance depicted on the Betty Crocker packaging. The gustatory profile was unaltered, though I'd suggest beating the eggs with granulated and mixing the brown sugar with the melted butter and chocolate to secure the shiny, wispy surface.

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Out & About #1181 | FIFA Watch Party, Level 1 Hip Hop at Dance Life X + Markham

6/27/2026

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A late return on Sunday made for quite the insufferable Monday morning in office. The previous night's meal of hotpot had resulted in my body burning up uncontrollably, my complexion breaking out, and awaking up several times due to internal heat. Needless to say, the beer-and-champagne duo I had downed did not help my case: A mild hangover headache was in store for me.

In any case, I somehow made it to the office, albeit staggering and stumbling. Although I had brought along my helmet, biking on city streets with four hours of sleep was hardly recommended. Instead, I took to a brief walk to my former workspace.

Meeting old teammates reminded me of pre-trauma times - a period where everything flowed in tranquility and I was genuinely happy, despite a tad stagnant in my career. The way that they welcomed me back with open arms, wide smiles, and plenty of questions about my return was more than I could have asked for.
These were people that accepted me as I came. I didn't have to prove my worth, to defend my skills, nor be on edge about being thrown into a raging fire. Mutual respect was a guarantee.

Despite my transition to a different team, our relationship hadn't changed, and I couldn't be more thankful.

The next in-office day came after two evenings of sleeping early. In the morning, my upper body strength was tested with weighty baggage comprising of ice packs, food, and post-work attire. In the afternoon was a FIFA watch party, and in the evening was a Hip Hop dance class.

Now properly rested, lunchtime once again meant cycling in the city.

My ride comprised of:

Avoiding taxis on Front Street
Interpreting bike signage while riding
Evading mentally unstable residents of the streets while striving to adhere to traffic signals
Being mindful of delivery driver e-bikes ready to run you down
Ridiculing Spadina's status as a "shared cycling route"

I stopped by The Well, continued towards Portland to ride the newly-installed bikeway (lots of asphalt deficiencies), and then returned to the office.

One hour later, we collectively headed over for a private FIFA Watch Party. The amount of snacks were unreal! From exotic chips to biscotti to strawberries to my last-minute milk pudding x coffee agar creation (horrible idea to mix gelatin and agar, mind you), there was absolutely no shortage of sustenance for streaming.

Reheating the bars using a somewhat unreliable toaster oven gave me an excuse to avoid remaining stationary while watching a game I was hardly interested in.

Around 4:30 PM, I made my escape, taking two coworkers - who were as equally uninterested - along with me.
We parted ways shortly afterwards, with one heading for Nepalese cuisine with friends and another eager to return home. I, on the other hand, was keen to check out The Rec Room.

Brimming with children, teenage couples, and sports fans, the internal quarters were disgustingly warm and stuffy. Each of the games were also practically double the price at the Square One location.

Two rounds of Pump It Up! 2024 later, I jumped on a bike and steadily made my way northeast towards Dance Life X.

Since my first visit last year, I had always been keen to try the other classes on offer. Erring on the side of caution, I settled on a Level 1 Hip Hop class as opposed to Level 3 Jazz Funk for my return.

I docked at Isabel/Church after a 28 min ride from Bremner and Simcoe, arriving 15 mins before class start. Little had I known that the facility housed at least 5 more studios in a separate section than I had been last. There were also a second set of bathrooms, wherein one could find two shower stalls (that doubled as change rooms), a bench, two impossibly small stalls. A water dispenser, sofa, and benches with peeling patent leather were positioned outside the studio rooms. The water dispenser had long run out of water before the second session classes even commenced at 7:15 PM though.

Half of my ride from Bremner/Rees to Church/Isabella

The Level 1 Hip Hop instructor was a persona I had been following the instructor since her time at Star Dance. Her roster of genres ranged from waacking to K-Pop covers to hip hop, which was an interesting combination not unlike SWF 2's renowned battler, waackxx_xy, who, in fact, follows Dance Life X's instructor!

After waiting seemingly an eternity for the bathroom, I scurried into the studio for class commencement. We started with stretches, followed by warm-ups consisting of bounces and groovy steps. Offering a sharp contrast between the hip hop vibe were the strong, clean arms commonly associated with waacking, however these arms quickly disappeared after the stretches.

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Out & About #1180 | McMichael Canadian Art Collection

6/21/2026

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Approximately two weeks in advance of the date, I had been coordinating - or mandating, really - that my browsing partner be present for the planned itinerary. Because time and specific dates are merely conceptual in some minds, it was a battle that would likely result in an UNO reverse and, consequently, my concession. But after prolonged, fiery exchanges (and an inevitable climb in (my!) blood pressure), the day could finally proceed as planned.

Arranging the logistics for the day proved to be a true travesty, for I had wished to accomplish several goals that were not compatible in terms of operating hours and geographic coordinates. Needless to say, my browsing partner revealed an absence of appreciation for the workaround, further highlighting that achieving multiple objectives in one day instilled neither joy nor satisfaction. But I digress!!!

The first stop of the day was Chatime, where complimentary Ube Brown Sugar Peal Lattes would be distributed to the first 50 people donning purple. Although I've never been fond of Chatime, I do enjoy ube, brown sugar, and free milk tea. Venturing further from the GTA increased our chances of falling within the 50 count, so I took a leap of faith and attempted an outlet with the earliest opening time of 11:30 AM.
Located inside a Walmart, the destination was a fitting stopover for our long drive up north, for it offered indoor plumbing facilities in addition to an opportunity to pick up non-perishable groceries if needed.

The number of patrons waiting outside the gates was also far fewer than expected. My browsing partner and I successfully assumed the fourth and fifth positions in line. I'd likely qualify for the purple requirement by default given my partially purple mane, however a fuzzy terry wristband was prepared for my chauffeur, with the knowledge that others' wardrobe staples likely did not revolve around the hue.

I wasn't expecting milk options of almond, soy, and oat to be offered for the complimentary 12 oz. beverage, however gladly requested oat milk at being informed of the choices. The drink combined a base of brown sugar milk tea with an iris ube foam. A tasty concoction it was, though the ube content was hardly distinguishable. (I'd take to my own Ube Crinkle Cookies any day!)

Around 11:50 AM, we departed the asphalt lot for La Pizza Shoppe within the Kleinburg BIA. Relieved I was to be on schedule for the restaurant's 12 PM opening.

Alas, only upon drawing near the entrance were we, along with a handful of other waiting customers, informed of "inadequate pizza oven heating time" and a subsequent delayed 1 PM opening. Those patiently hovering nearby were as equally frustrated by the news as I was.

I resorted to swiftly strolling the proximity for alternatives. Finding none that fit budget, scheduling, and private parking lot requirements, I declared that we would make our way directly to the next stop instead.

The McMichael Canadian Art Collection recently surfaced on my radar after being added to the TPL Map pass selection, but passes had long vanished due to newness and demand. It was strictly by chance that "Free Family Sundays" were discovered when browsing the website. Recurring on every 3rd Sunday of the month, the date coincidentally aligned with the day's planned happenings.
I had reserved tickets online in advance, though they did not appear necessary as there was no formal check-in procedure for admission.

A winding asphalt path led into the gallery grounds, temporarily terminating at a parking toll booth. Both sides of the presumably private road featured outdoor attractions with paved and unpaved trails. These components could be accessed free of charge by taking transit (Ha!) or leaving one's vehicle in the nearby BIA area or overflow parking area within the Kleinburg Public School lot.
Given the muggy external conditions though, I did not desire retracing my steps half an hour each way. The parking fee was $7 per vehicle and permitted re-entry access with retention of receipt. Admission was assumed to operate similarly, allowing visitors to support the Art Collection and BIA area simultaneously.

The vehicular entry path concluded at a roundabout that was evidently not intuitive for drivers. Many visitors, including my browsing partner, opted for an immediate left into the visitor parking, disregarding the one-way signage indicating counterclockwise flow about the sodded centre median. Having been involved in the review and design of such channelizers, the observed behaviour was as disappointing as it was dangerous. Revisions to the signage and pavement markings on private grounds ought be undertaken to minimize conflicts and improve safety.

View the full album HERE !

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Out & About #1179 | The Steep Learning Curve, Toronto's First Post Office + Rhubarb Crumble Bar

6/20/2026

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I was riding high for at least three weeks before the "steep learning curve" mentioned in my interview caught up to me: There was, indeed, an insurmountable amount of technical data that was required of my position. Obvious were my struggles in navigating the various maps, data sources, policy documents, guidelines, and more, and, inevitably, the stress accumulated until an impending deadline became the only thing on my mind.
But my deadline could be extended - shocking! - and I was repeatedly told not to worry about my sluggish pace. With each passing day though, I became frustrated with my own lack of progress. I strived for comprehensiveness and speed, yet it didn't feel as if my efforts were translating into an effective output.

In the face of this internal contention, I received an incredible encouragement and assistance. It was mind-blowing, really, for the trauma response still lurked in the back of my mind. Extra hours were invested in an attempt to accelerate task completion, and eventually resulted in being commended (!!!). My efforts had not only been acknowledged, but appreciated!

Chaotic yet fruitful has been this one-month journey thus far, and it with both anxiety and anticipation that I gaze towards the upcoming few months.

Following the continual downpour of Sunday, cooler temperatures and gorgeous blue skies welcomed the GTA into Monday. Breezy conditions enabled a lengthier ride, for I could continue without fear of building excess warmth.

My first stop was the Distillery District.
Although the quaint commercial neighbourhood sees highest volumes during the Distillery Winter Village, the quieter spring/summer season is a wonderful time to roam without the corridors being inundated by crowds and risking the extremities growing numb with each passing second. Suffice to say, Distillery is stunning and utterly underrated in the warmer months.

As one would expect, there was no shortage of FIFA-related merchandise. Bergo Designs' Jellycat inventory had been supplemented with $100 Footballs and a giant Octopus.

A bathroom stop later, I continued on my way. External conditions were beautiful but incredibly dusty, to the point where a Buff could not prevent olfactory irritation and a runny nose.

Consistent with the reviews of locals, biking up Sherbourne was hardly ideal, however it was better to have a dedicated facility than not. Let it be known that the Dundas/Sherbourne intersection ought be avoided where possible, and especially at night. Even a brief pause for the traffic signal change conjured recollections of E Hastings, in particular the exterior of Hope to Health on Powell Street.

Routes with dedicated cycling infrastructure made for the most comfortable, seamless segments, regardless of physically separated or not. Navigating the shared facilities of Front Street and the notoriously aggressive Uber drivers, taxis, and heavy trucks persist as intimidating.

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Out & About #1178 | Rainy Day in Scarborough + Woodside Square

6/14/2026

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When my coworker randomly informed me of a weekend community in Scarborough, it hadn't crossed my mind that I had the option to participate. Upon receiving approval from those involved, I prepared accordingly and made my way eastwards on a dreary, drizzly Sunday morning.

My first stop was Canadian Tire, where I found patriotic non-Canadian geese lawn decorations while on a hunt for a banana case. Despite the questionable size of the Joie-branded contraption, I decided to take my chances with the product. It was intended to be a gift for the aforementioned coworker, who has been nothing short of helpful and encouraging since my joining the team.

I headed to IKEA next, intending on grabbing a budget-friendly lunch before continuing on my way towards Scarborough. Stumbling upon a Spin-the-Wheel event featuring a chance to win Meatball Flavoured Chupa Chups, I couldn't resist partaking as well.

The line moved quickly and I soon secured the strange lollipop.
(Spoiler: It tasted positively revolting: excessively cloying yet somehow sour and off-putting at the same time.)

In stark contrast to the promotional event, the Bistro lineup was atrociously sluggish even at the early hour of 11:30 AM.

The absence of my browsing partner led me to resist indulgence in the Swedish chain's new Strawberry Shortcake Slice. I adhered to a Salmon Fillet platter, which was presented in a reduced format than recalled - and on a flimsy biodegradable plate to boot! The nachos weren't bad, though the chips were somewhat stale and the meatballs wholly unfitting.

BJÄLLRA, the newest addition to the KAFFEREP series, featured a lemon filling boasting an identically stringy consistency to the my go-to raspberry variation. Although it wasn't lemony by any means, I enjoyed it tremendously.

Prior to arriving at the neighbourhood event, I stopped by Woodside Square for inside plumbing facilities. Residing in the parking lot was a dinosaur-themed play structure, which seemed somewhat out of place until I lay eyes on dino chairs in the mall corridors.

The food court was an amusing space housing a performance stage and adjacent military machinery installation. Again, the partially fenced installation appeared to lack cohesiveness with the community-centric retail centre, although interesting nevertheless. The grounds offered a strange sense of nostalgia and comfort, despite the fact that I had never set foot into the mall previously.

Baker Duck assumed a destination on my radar, so I made a beeline for the establishment after visiting the soap-devoid bathroom in the nearby corridor. Amongst the three Chinese bakeries in the mall, an endless checkout queue persisted at Baker Duck. Everbest was hardly busy, while Blooming Garden was actively promoting drink and bun pairings at discounted prices.

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Out & About #1177 | North York Stopover, Caramel Honeycomb Cake + Orange Condensed Milk Pound Cake

6/13/2026

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As the city gears up for FIFA with excitement, I reinforce my status as a non-watcher and non-lover of sports by refusing any and all opportunities to engage with the seasonal nightmare.

Instead, I shall strive to steer clear of the downtown core wherever possible during the duration of the games - especially on game days where lingering is ill-advised - and calmly celebrate with patriotism from the cozy chambers of my suburban home.

Meals of the week included a scrumptious Cheeseburger Pot Pie from Sweetie Pie, PB & Strawberry Jelly Challah Toast (a mix of homemade and store-bought from COBS), and several homemade creations.

The wholly unexpected invitation to a site visit on the edge of Vaughan was more than I could have wished for! From being denied PPE, a work phone, and site visits altogether just one year ago, I am glad to report back that interacting with our environment to identify in-situ constraints is now highly encouraged! Look how far we have come!

I awoke earlier than usual in preparation, commencing my commute at the early hour of 8 AM in hopes of arriving by 9:20 AM. Unfortunately, GTA traffic is hardly kind even to those that account for congestion. The trip spanned a grueling 1h 45 mins; By the 90-minute mark though, I made a stopover for indoor plumbing facilities.

The Tim Hortons bathroom failed to flush, causing an accumulation of urine and used toilet paper. In addition, the sink was clogged. I desperately fought the urge to vomit, Availability of toilet paper, soap, and running water were considered luxuries, for the men's stall was revolting beyond belief.

An approximate 2.5h site walk led us well past lunchtime, though the team was antsy to wrap up the venture before impending rainfall.

While there were brief moments of gustiness in the morning, conditions proceeded to turn hot, humid, and muggy around noon. I was equipped with a neck fan, wool socks, and plenty of UV gear, though did not think to bring water for the sunny trek. Coming to my saviour was the Earl Bales Community Centre, which featured air conditioning, clean bathrooms, and a water fountain.

Although I had initially grimaced at having to work through lunch, the 1 PM conclusion brought me tremendous relief, as it essentially confirmed a relatively peaceful drive back.

Naturally, I took advantage of the site's proximity to North York and zipped off in the direction of Don't Yell At Me. My arrival time would also coincide with Mister Wheel's hours of operation, though online orders were not permitted until 2 PM. Consequently, I was restricted to placing the order in person.

My preferred parking area along Canterbury Place boasted plenty of spaces. That said, it hadn't occurred to me that signage was present to prohibit parking during business hours. I was grateful to not have earned myself a ticket for the infraction.

Life4Cuts within the Upper East has recently been replaced with photoism. Despite offering a wider assortment of K-Pop idol frames, the head accessory and eyewear selection have diminished drastically. New ENHYPEN frames were observed, wistfully devoid of Heesung.

A Single Person Set from Mister Wheel required about 10-15 minutes to prepare. During this time, I decided to confirm the status of the partially obstructed washroom facility. Located at the rear of the space, just past General An Posticker's counter, was a spacious single stall unit. Brown paper towel and a commercial-sized toilet paper roll were stored in a wire basket, for all the dispensers were out of service. Soap was provided out of a plastic bottle, as the wall-mounted dispenser was also, supposedly, broken.
My browsing partner had commented on the lack of pristineness previously, though the early hours of operation had rendered the facilities decent - and much, much better than Tims.

Two Black Sesame Wheel Cakes and a Tung Ting Oolong Tea in a brown paper bag accompanied me back to the car.

On the way back, I swiftly claimed my Rose & Roselle Ceylon Lime Tea from DYAM. The barista had likely prepared it before I had arrived at Mister Wheel, as the bag had been transferred to the refrigerator in wait of pickup.

While the concoction instantly quenched my dehydrated soul, it featured neither the fragrant qualities of rose nor zesty presence of lime I had envisioned. Moreover, the base tasted of a strong green tea, rather than Ceylon (black).

A truly forgiving 50-minute drive back to the west end of the GTA enabled me to sample the wheel cakes while still fresh. Scrumptious and gratifying as always, the rounds also boasted a reimagined design with a moose, the Rockies, and "CANADA" in bold letters.

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Out & About #1176 | 401 Richmond Exhibits, Work Revelations + Chocolate Strawberry Entremet

6/6/2026

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The new job has been unexpectedly busy, but not in a manner that brings stress or despair. My team members have been extremely helpful, and my supervisor understanding and supportive. Friends have reached out excitedly to reconnect, and even newly-acquainted staff have welcomed me with open arms and wide smiles. Reuniting with such a positive environment has reinstated a sense of peace in my daily routine. However, it is also worth noting that my own responses to this change has been insecure and timid: One year in an awfully toxic, despicable workplace caused trauma responses to resurface once more. Healing was never easy to start, but being wounded after a drawn-out recovery has made the current process all the more challenging.

In-office days had me utterly pre-occupied. Beyond socializing, it was the ideal opportunity to ask questions and seek input on guidance documents, roles and responsibilities, and general inquiries.

Meetings commencing at 1 PM are pretty much the norm in this new team. Should I wish to revel in my well-deserved lunch breaks, I'd need to commence exploration before noon. Bike Share would assist me in furthering these objectives by providing a swifter, more efficient way of navigating the city.
When my pick up order at Michaels was cancelled, I took advantage of the opportunity to visit the 401 Richmond heritage building once more.

Only recently was the arts and culture scene in Toronto discovered to be quite remarkable. Since returning from Amsterdam, it astounded me that there were countless galleries and sources of unique, contemplative exhibits just waiting to be uncovered - most of them offering complimentary admission to boot!

Although the timing of my visit had coincided with the temporary closure of the Museum of Toronto and another second-floor exhibit, the mid-week stopover enabled perusal of several galleries and exhibits within the building. Amongst these was an informative, planning-focused presentation about urban form (complete with models!), a pop art-esque series titled Selling Canada, and various mixed-media exhibits paying homage to Indigenous origins, societal controversies, climate change and complex emotions, and more.

By venturing along different routes in the downtown core, I've been able to gather firsthand ridership experience from the city's cycling initiatives. Regardless of the path, it remains a fact that dedicated facilities make for safer, quicker, and more enjoyable trips.

The team meandered towards the FIFA-decorated grounds of Bay/Dundas the following day.

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Out & About #1183 | Unexpected Koreatown Hangout Feat. Photo Signature + Damda

Out & About #1182 | Brownies, Mini Choux with Chocolate Cream + Craquelin Pineapple Bun

Out & About #1181 | FIFA Watch Party, Level 1 Hip Hop at Dance Life X + Markham

Out & About #1180 | McMichael Canadian Art Collection

Out & About #1179 | The Steep Learning Curve, Toronto's First Post Office + Rhubarb Crumble Bar

Out & About #1178 | Rainy Day in Scarborough + Woodside Square

Out & About #1177 | North York Stopover, Caramel Honeycomb Cake + Orange Condensed Milk Pound Cake

Out & About #1176 | 401 Richmond Exhibits, Work Revelations + Chocolate Strawberry Entremet

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