Jays Fan

Life of a Toronto Blue Jays Fan

   Jan 04

Depth Chart: Outfield For 2011 Features More Speed

By Mick Bowles

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 29: Travis Snider #45 of the Toronto Blue Jays shows off his Cito Gaston mustache as he plays against the New York Yankees during a MLB game at the Rogers Centre September 29, 2010 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo by Abelimages/Getty Images)
Right Field

Travis Snider, in his third year in the majors, is looking for more consistency and a clean bill of health; 2011 could be the year that he achieves both.  Snider hasn’t had a smooth path to the majors, but has shown at different times that he is more than capable of excelling at the highest level.

Snider should take over starting duties in right field, with the occasional start by Jose Bautista to give him a day off.  Bautista will get most of his starts at third base unless the Jays acquire another player between now and spring training, and will back up Snider in right.

Snider batted .378 in May with a .711 Slugging Percentage before the injury that took him out for all of June and July, then rebounded with a .304 average in September and October.  A full year of at-bats should see an impressive increase in production with a batting average likely around .290.

Center Field

The longest serving member of the Blue Jays, Vernon Wells, will again return to his position in center field.  The veteran outfielder will work to unite the young Snider and new Rajai Davis into a defensive unit with his responsible play and experience.  Wells has had over 500 at-bats over the last eight seasons, remaining relatively injury free, despite struggles with his wrist last year.  His resurgence in power saw him post his best home run and RBI totals since 2006, at 31 and 88 respectively.

Davis will cover for him on his off days, creating a chain effect that will see Snider move to left field and Bautista to right, or Corey Patterson filling in where needed.

Left field

The speedy new acquisition Rajai Davis will be taking over left field for the Toronto Blue Jays.  They will try to have him in the line-up as much as possible so they have a legitimate base stealing threat in the leadoff position.  Davis has stolen 142 bases over the last four seasons, including 50 last season alone—far more than even the next closest Jay.

Corey Patterson is slotted to be the fourth outfielder right now, another base stealing threat with 21 last season.

Source:
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/562887-toronto-blue-jays-depth-chart-outfield-for-2011-features-more-speed

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   Jan 03

The Best Game Ever

By admin

I have been a big fan of the Toronto Blue Jays since I was a kid.  Perhaps it’s because I come from a long line of fans, but I look forward to baseball season every single year.  When I was a little boy, my grandfather would buy season tickets and every time the Jays had a home game, he would pick me up and take me to the ball field.  We would get there early and the energy in the stands was almost palpable.

My grandfather was such a loyal fan that he actually struck up a friendship with the manager of the team and so we not only got to watch every single game from the best seats in the house, but we also got to mingle with the players from time to time.  I still remember one game in particular that still keeps the title of the best game ever in my mind.

It was my tenth birthday.  I knew the Jays had a home game, but I wasn’t going to go to this one.  My mom had planned a birthday party for about a dozen of my friends and their parents.  They were all guys that played little league with me so our plan was to watch the game on television, eat lots of pizza, and maybe have a belching contest or two along the way.  I was very excited about the party, but it was bittersweet because I was missing the action on the field and my grandfather wouldn’t be at my party.

I should’ve known that they had a surprise up their sleeves, but I never saw it coming.  About half an hour after my friends arrived with sleeping bags in hand, my grandfather pulled in the driveway with a fifteen passenger van.  “Come on, boys!” he bellowed in that big voice of his.  Grandpa piled us all in the van he borrowed from a guy at work and took us all to the field.

Instead of pizza, he fed us hot dogs until we were so stuffed we could barely move.  Then he bought us cotton candy.  During the seventh inning stretch, they flashed “Happy Birthday Brandon!” on the score board and the crowd cheered like a celebrity was in their midst.  To top it all off, I caught a foul ball in the eighth inning, which was signed by my favorite player right after the game.  That night will forever last in my memory as the ultimate game when all my dreams came true.  My grandfather’s legacy in my life is about more than baseball, but I will never forget that night under the lights on the ball field when he leaned over and ruffled my hair.  “I’m proud of you, boy,” he grumbled.  Then he bought me “just one more” hot dog to prove it.

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   Aug 24

Let Your Child Hoop It Up This Fall

By admin

Fall is around the corner and your little one brings you a sign up form for basketball. Basketball? Is that a good idea, he/she is just a child. If your child is telling you that they are interested in playing basketball then yes it is a great idea. Organized sports are great for younger children, weather it’s for a church program or for school let them have a chance to be a part of a team.

The best way for children to learn sportsmanship and teamwork is being a part of a team. They will learn more of how to work together and follow instruction best when with other ones of the same age in an activity that is fun. Depending on the age the score is not top priority but understanding teamwork and game fundamentals are. Coaches are well aware of the abilities of the children.

Another benefit to children playing basketball is the extreme work on hand eye coordination and foot work. Running the court guarding his opponent. Learning to walk and run while handling a ball, dribbling and throwing, aiming for the goal or passing the ball off to someone else. All of these are huge advantages to playing basketball.

Yes, if your child is interested in playing basketball then look into it. You may want to research and find the best program for them. There are more than your schools program to choose from. It’s best if you are fully comfortable with the coaches and program direction. If you are not sure ask around to other parents what kind of experience they had with program. It’s not always about winning; children love to be apart of

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   Apr 12

Tim Tebow Draws a Large Crowd for Easter Service

By admin

Tim Tebow, quarterback for the New York Jets, spoke at an Easter weekend service that drew a crowd of over 15,000 at Celebration Church near Austin, Texas. He was clearly the big attraction at the church, who already has it’s largest crowd on Easter anyway. “In Christianity, it’s the Pope and Tebow right now,” Celebration Church pastor Joe Champion was quoted as saying . “We didn’t have enough room to handle the Pope.”

Some drove over 100 miles to hear the 24 year old Tebow address the crowd, and over 100 buses shuttled people from parking areas to the event. He was open about his faith, his career, and how both have collided in the public eye. He welcomes the attention to his faith, because it brings the issue into conversation. “It’s being talked about,” he said. “That’s exciting.”

Tebow, who was recently traded to the Jets from the Denver Broncos, has said that athletes are role models, whether they want to be or not, and more often than not, they are not very good ones. He tries to maintain a clean image and impeccable character in both his public and private life, and is not afraid to speak out about his faith.

Many Christian leaders applaud Tebow for being a solid role model for all ages, and his celebrity is growing by the day it seems – for this same reason. He’s a great positive example of how to live with character in the spotlight and out of the spotlight too.

He is looking forward to his new career with the New York Jets, after a successful run with the Broncos.

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   Feb 25

Merging Baseball and Construction

By admin

Like so many others who have come before me, I love the game of baseball. From the strategy to the players themselves, I simply enjoy watching the game unfold. As a young child I always collected baseball cards and anything related to the sport. As my childhood turned into the teen years I quickly developed a knack for playing the game. Unfortunately, like so many others, I was not good enough to progress to the next level and thus my baseball love was reduced to watching the games on television. However that all changed about 10 years ago. Allow me to share the story of how my love for the game of baseball and my career in the construction industry allowed me to meet some of my favorite players.

Don Mattingly will always be remembered as a great first basemen but my memories will also include him hiring me to build a system of Floating Boat Piers. I was astonished when my phone rang and it was him. The job itself was amazing simply because it was a 100k dollar job. With all of the history in the game that he offered I couldn’t wait to get to work. While doing the job we actually became somewhat friendly and he offered to show me his trophy rooms and all of his memorabilia. It was awesome. But the best thing about it was that Don kept adding on to the job. He wanted every kind of Dock Accessory there was and that only added to my time on the job.

The system itself was fabulous but that led to several other jobs around his house. He had a great passion for plants and trees and wanted me to build a few landscape walkways that circled his home. They looked really nice especially after his wife lined the entire perimeter with flowering bushes and trees. I was simply honored to be able to work with this guy! Here I was rubbing elbows with one of the best ball players of his time. Over the course of the job he shared a ton of stories about his life in the game and I shared stories about my adventures in Dock Building.

He probably wasn’t that impressed with my stories but apparently his friends were impressed with my skills. After finishing his job he passed my info along to Barry Larkin. Mr. Larkin called and next week I will start building Boat Docks on his lake property. Who would have dreamed that?

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   Jan 27

Teach Your Child to Love Baseball

By admin

Baseball is known as the most loved sport of America. It is the game that little boys love to play and watch and dream of one day being on those fields. Many parents teach their kids to love baseball. Kids will start out in t-ball and then keep moving up as they grow older. A way to teach you kid to love baseball is teaching them to play as a team. They learn the importance of relying on their teammates to help them during games. Many parents love to see their kid working together with their teammates to win and play the best they can.

Baseball is easy to love and kids learn to love it by playing it and investing their time and skills into it. Kids learn to love it for the excitement it brings to America and the way it is played with determination and hard work. Many parents see baseball as a way to have their kid be involved in something fun and exciting. Baseball for kids can be an outlet to help them see life differently or change the way they feel about a situation.

Teaching your child to play baseball is a great way to keep your kids healthy and strong. Baseball can be great exercise and build strength and endurance. Teaching your kids to love baseball may take some time and as they grow in their competence, they will feel one way or another about baseball. It will either become their favorite thing to do or a thing they would rather just play every now and then. A kid learning to love baseball comes from parents who love baseball themselves.

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   Nov 15

For the Love of Baseball

By admin

Americans have always loved the all-time greatest sport of baseball! Baseball is considered an American sport. It is supported by fans every year and loves by all. Baseball was and is a fun sport to watch and to play. Great legends like Babe Ruth and

Lou Gehrig made baseball what it is today.

Not only do men love baseball but women love it as well. Women have even taken over the sport by creating softball. This sport is very easy to learn with simple rules and great rewards. Things like homeruns and triple plays have made this sport exciting. Baseball is played in backyards by young kids, made popular by colleges, and created professional players for the big leagues. There is a lot of strength in baseball and it is definitely a team sport. Every player has a part to play and must do his part for the team to be successful. The pitcher must pitch well and the outfielders must catch fly balls.

Fans of baseball can go crazy for their favorite team. You will see painted faces and their team colors all through the crowd. They will show up early and not leave until that very last play. All baseball players are playing hard for that last game, the World Series. They practice, sweat, train, and work hard in each game for that day, the day where they are called champions of this great American sport. Many teams will get close to this World Series but only one comes out as a World Series Champion. That is a great day for many players who have worked so hard to get to that point. The coaches also feel they’ve done their job. Baseball will always be around for excitement and entertainment. It is a great way to show our pride in our country.

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   May 30

The Best Bad Weather Alternatives for Toronto’s Rainy Days

By admin

No matter where you live, the weather outside is sometimes unpredictable. Even places that have a sunny warm climate are bound to have a few bad weather days. While a sprinkle or two may not be bothersome, getting stuck outside in a downpour is not a great way to spend your day. For anyone who lives in Toronto where rain is prevalent, the conditions can be even more treacherous.

Though those who have to work outside may be the ones we think of who have to suffer through the nasty weather conditions, another group that also has to consider them are those who must go outside to smoke. Since smoking is banned in many places, anyone who wants to have a regular cigarette must do so outside no matter what the weather may be like. To make life on this group a bit easier, brands like Blu electronic cigarettes are offering a smoke free alternative.

If you have never heard of such things, you would be wise to check out e-cigarette reviews to find out what all of the fuss is about and what makes these a good choice for anyone who is currently smoking traditional cigarettes. Another reason to check out these sites is to find out what the best e cigarettes are for your needs.  South Beach Smoke and The Safe Cig Reviews can be found in a lot of places on the internet.

Some brands offer electronic cigarette affiliate programs for those who are interested. If you have heard of such a thing, be sure to go online to find out more from reviews of such brands. Another reason that some smokers are choosing this kind of alternative to other cigarettes is because they can be a cost saving alternative.

Online reviews often let readers in on how to get a hold of electronic cigarette coupons to help defray the cost of this new kind of technology. Another way to save money is to look for Premium coupon codes or codes for your favorite brand of e-cigarette while reading reviews, for example, a V2 Cigs review. Smokers of these cigarettes are glad to share the secrets to saving money on their preferred brand so take advantage and try them out.  You may have just found the perfect way to keep smoking and stay dry and warm!

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   Mar 23

Cheaper Insurance Means More Money for Jays Games

By Joe Carter

Hi, my name is Dave, and I am probably the biggest fan the Toronto Blue Jays will ever have. There is nothing I love more than watching my beloved Jays win a game.

While it is possible to listen to the games on the radio or watch the Jays play on television, it is not quite the same as going to the actual games. The games let me see everything, not just the bits that a television crew thinks you will be interested in. Plus, when I go to the games, I am surrounded by other Jay’s fans who share in my excitement when the Jays win, and understand the disappointment of a loss.

This year, my goal is to go to every single Toronto home game of the season. I got a second job so that I can afford the price of season tickets. However I still have to come up with the money to actually get to the games since I live in a different city. So, the other night I sat down at the kitchen table and went over my personal finances and tried to figure out where I could save money. One of the things that I discovered is that I spend a ridiculous amount of money on insurance. I already had cheap motor trader insurance, or at least I thought I did, but I also had landlord insurance and motorcycle insurance which were not as cheap.

I was curious about the prices that other insurance companies charged for their landlord insurance and other types of insurance so I ran a free electoral roll search and discovered a list of insurance companies in my area that allowed me to combine a cheap motor trader insurance policy with my landlord insurance and save a couple hundred dollars a year. This means more money that I can put towards my travel fund.

One of the other random things I learned during my research is that it is possible to receive free legal advice online before signing a contract with any insurance company. These legal aid sites are run by lawyers and law students who simply want to help people, who do not want to find themselves in the middle of bitter custody battles and uninteresting court cases. They are happy to help people like me, who do not have a lot of spare cash, who are simply looking for legal advice and CVtemplates that they can use when switching insurance plans.

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   Mar 21

The Secret is Out: Jays Players Have a New Hobby

By diduknow

Everyone knows that online bingo is a major sensation among today’s general public.  People around the world love to get online and play games of any kind, but it seems like people have taken a special interest in UK bingo over the past two years.  Every month, new bingo sites are launched offering new versions of the classic game that we all love.  It turns out that the Jays players have a new hobby to help them decompress after every game.  Can you guess what it is?  That’s right – they love playing UK bingo!

One of the players recently shared with a reporter how it all got started.  “It was actually an accident.  We were all hanging out at a bar after the game one night and one of the outfielders had his laptop with him.  He was hanging out in a booth looking intently at the screen and we all went over to see what on earth he was doing.  That’s when we were introduced to online bingo.”

Since then, the Jays players have all started to play bingo and they have created their own accounts and handles so no one would know who they are.  Rumor has it that they have even enrolled in a progressive jackpot and they are competing as a team in the upcoming tournament hosted by several of the no deposit free bingo sites.

When we asked them which bingo sites they played on most often, they hesitated to give us a straight answer.  Apparently, they want to keep their little bingo league anonymous.  They did provide us with a few links that offered great games and recommended that we start there.  It’s possible that these are the sites where the Jays players are visiting after every game.  Log in and see if you can catch them in action.  Here are the links they provided:

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   Feb 20

Two of My Favorite Things

By bigJay

Being a fan of baseball, I appreciate when the weather is great and I can go see my favorite team, the Toronto Blue Jays, play a game at home. Since they play so many games away from home, I am a bit disappointed when I cannot travel to go see them play. Of course, I still never miss a game and the ones that I cannot see in person, I watch on television. Besides spending time on my computer, I love to be able to watch my team play and it is an even better time when they win. Since baseball on television can sometimes be a bit slow, I try to fill my time in other ways.

Playing games online is second only to watching my favorite baseball team, so why not pair them together? Having a game of moon bingo going online is the best way I can think of to watch a baseball game. Not only can I see my favorite players work hard, I can also have fun online and maybe win some money. One game that seems to go particularly well with baseball watching is Redbus bingo. Though I am not sure why they go together so well, I love that I can do both of the things I love at the same time.

If you have ever thought about trying online games such as RitzyBingo, what are you waiting for? Online games like this are a great way to spend time online. Whether or not you have the baseball game on in the background, you can still have a great time learning new games and sometimes winning big. Though winning was my initial reason for starting this hobby, I have a lot of fun while playing.

Of course, I have also won some great prizes, especially when playing gossip bingo. A friend of mine who also enjoys gaming online suggested this game to me. It is the perfect choice of games when I have some time to kill waiting for the Blue Jays game to start. I just cannot think of two things I like better than baseball and online bingo.

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   Feb 05

Dad’s Favorite Hobby

By Gary Preston

Having a hobby is important for everyone so that they can forget about the stresses of everyday life. Since dads have one of the hardest jobs in the world, they too need to forget about work when they come home to their families. There are many things that dads of all ages enjoy as far as hobbies. Being able to unwind and relax after a day of hard work or on the weekends is what gets most of them through a work day. From spending time outside working on the yard to going out to a bar with friends, the possibilities for having fun are endless.

One pastime that many men have in common is watching sports. Not only do they love to watch sports, but who does not love going outside and playing sports with the family or maybe some friends. For those times when it is not possible to play your favorite game outside or you cannot make it to the stadium to watch a game in person, watching a game at home can be just as fun. And with so many different sports to choose from, there is sure to be one on television almost all year round.

One way that some dads make the games they watch even more interesting is with sports betting. Being able to watch your favorite team play and know that you could win big when they win big can be very exciting. Even if your favorite team is not playing you can still make sure the game is exciting to watch thanks to online betting. There are many websites to choose from and Dads of all kinds are really getting into this new kind of betting.

Sure you may have already heard of football betting or more specifically nfl betting but did you know that if you go online you can be a part of cricket betting? Dads all around the world love to spend time online and now betting, which is a favorite hobby for many, can also be done online. Though you may love sitting on the couch and watching the game with your buddies or the kids, you can enjoy betting with a simple connection to the internet.

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   Jan 29

Getting to Know Gary

By JT

Have you met Gary? Gary is a great guy. He works hard at his job, loves spending time with his friends and can often be seen at the local hotspot showing off his dance moves to the ladies. The thing about Gary is that he has one small problem. No, it is not his dance moves, although they could use some help! His problem is that he cannot get enough of his new favorite cigarette.

Though it may not seem like a good thing to love your cigarettes so much, this case is an exception to the norm. See, his cigarettes are a bit different from what you may think a traditional cigarette would look like. Gary loves to smoke cigarettes like Safe Cig and Green Smoke electronic cigarettes, which Gary can enjoy on the dance floor without offending the ladies.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with this kind of cigarette, it is a brand of e-cigarettes available for purchase online. Though Gary prefers those brands, he also enjoys others he finds out about by reading e-cigarette reviews or an e-cigarette buyer’s guide which tells him about this kind of cigarette and why it may be a good choice for him or any other smoker.  The buyer’s guide and reviews can also be helpful when searching for e-cigarette coupon codes, which can really offer great discounts towards many brands of e-cigs.

If you would like to learn more about this great alternative to regular cigarettes, you may want to do a search online for the best electronic cigarette or Premium electronic cigarette reviews to see what all the fuss is about. By reading these reviews you will be able to learn more about the benefits of e-cigs as opposed to other types of cigarettes. For those who wish they could smoke in public again, this may your answer.

The difference between this type of smoking and others is that there really is no smoke coming from this cigarette. Though it may appear to be smoke, it is really just a vapor being emitted from the cartridge. What this means for smokers like Gary, is that they can smoke when they go out to the bar with their friends and not have to go outside and miss all the fun happening inside the bar. It also means that you will not have to miss seeing the many great dance moves Gary has to show you just because you were outside having a smoke.

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   Jan 17

The Father Son Connection

By JayLife

My dad has always been the kind of guy that you just automatically respected.  From the time that I was a little boy, I thought he was the biggest, strongest guy in the whole world.  I still tend to idolize him a lot in my daily life.  He seems to know how to fix anything, solve every situation, and answer any question imaginable.  He can build a house and he can rock a baby to sleep.  He is a tough guy with a soft heart and I always wanted to be like him.

When I moved to Michigan last year, I knew that it would be hard to stay connected to dad since he would be back home in Tennessee.  We decided to keep up by hanging out on Tuesday nights online.  We both liked to play blackjack online so it sounded like a fun way to stay connected.  Now every Tuesday night, we visit one of the best online casinos and we play games while we chat through the interactive chat features.  We are gradually working our way through the top ten casinos online and we are using the Virgin casino reviews to keep us on track from week to week.

We make it a habit to each read online casino reviews to learn which are the best online poker sites from month to month and year to year.  We even read online bingo reviews in case we ever decide to play that game as well.  My dad started contributing his own thoughts to some of the review forums and he has posted his opinions on William Hill casino reviews and the Euro Grand casino reviews.  I figure that everyone who knows him in person listens to him intently so the internet world will probably take his advice too.

We have picked out which is the best gaming review site for us and we use it often to keep us on track.  Even though I no longer live down the street from my dad, I still feel like we get to spend a lot of time together thanks to our little online casino tradition.  I hope that I can pass along the fun of card games and conversation to my own son someday.

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   Jan 15

Why You Should Hire an Agent to Sell Your Home

By admin

Hiring a Madison, WI Realtor to help you sell your home is a decision you will not regret. Because Madison Realtors are able to list Dane County Homes for Sale in more places than you have access to, they can get your home sold in less time and for more money than you could doing it on your own. Some people may say, “I can sell my home! I do not need to find a Realtor southern Wisconsin to sell it.”

While this may be true for some people, others have great success after listing Houses for Sale with a real estate agent. One reason is that the Best Realtors Dane County has to offer already know is that agents work hard to market your home. They have something to gain from the sale of your home just like you do.

Agents working for buyers know where the best Madison Real Estate listings can be found. Sometimes they will use a MLS to find as many possible Madison, WI Houses for sale for their clients. Knowing you used a real estate agent who listed your home on these same sites should give you peace of mind that you took the right steps to get your home viewed by as many buyers as possible.

Hiring an expert to sell your home also makes lots of sense if you yourself are not a real estate expert. There are many details involved in buying and selling a home which is why agents go through a good bit of training to get to the point where they can sell your home successfully. They are also a good source of information if you have questions about the home selling process.

Real Estate agents may not always give you the answers you want to hear, but they will tell you what you need to know. Selling a home in a buyers market will clearly be a difficult task for anyone. Make it easier by enlisting the help of a real estate professional instead of trying to do it all on your own. Moving takes a lot of time and effort and may be made easier if you let someone else worry about the sale of your old home.

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   Jan 06

Blue Jays Agree To $3.5M Deal With Dotel

By Mick Bowles

TORONTO (AP) — Reliever Octavio Dotel has agreed to a $3.5 million, one-year contract with the Toronto Blue Jays, who also gave a minor league contract to right-hander Chad Cordero.  Dotel, a 37-year-old right-hander, was 3-4 with a 4.08 ERA last year for Pittsburgh, the Los Angeles Dodgers and Colorado, averaging 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings. He held opponents to a .218 batting average.  Dotel gets $3 million this year, and Toronto has a $3.5 million club option for 2012 with a $500,000 buyout. Cordero, 28, was 0-1 with a 6.52 ERA for Seattle last year. He has 128 career saves, including 47 for Washington in 2005.

The agreements were announced Tuesday.

Source:
http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baseball/al/2011-01-04-1759429312_x.htm

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