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Poll: Democrats In Favor Of Marijuana Legalization More Than Ever

We’ve already seen how front and center cannabis will be in the upcoming 2020 election. One of the prominent questions candidates have been asked in early interviews is where they stand on cannabis reform. (Or they’re asked whether they have smoked cannabis before or not, as Sen. Kamala Harris (D-CA) was, resulting in the dumbest political controversy of 2019.)

While the Democratic party is generally considered the liberal party compared to Republicans, who are more associated with conservative attitudes, a range of conservative liberal ideologies lies amongst each party. But according to a new Gallup Poll, an overwhelming majority of all Democrats now support cannabis legalization at the federal level.

Part of that is because more Democrats associate with a liberal political ideology than ever before. Gallup documented this shift by pinpointing three different recent time periods and watching how attitudes have changed over that time. The breakdown of periods goes like this: 2001-2006,  2007-2012, and 2013-2018.

RELATED: Why Marijuana Advocates Believe This Is The Year It Could All Come Together

“The percentage of Democrats identifying as politically liberal averaged 32% in the first period, 39% in the second and 46% in the third,” writes Gallup. “At the same time, the percentages identifying as conservative and moderate fell equally.”

Image via Gallup Poll

Between 2001-2006, only 27 percent of moderate Democrats supported marijuana legalization. The number sharply rose between 2007-2012, when 53 percent of moderates identified as supporting marijuana legalization. That number continued to rise and reached 62 percent in 2013-2018.

More than half of liberal Democrats supported marijuana legalization throughout each time period. The number did receive a jump from 2001-2006, when 69 percent believed in marijuana legalization, to 2013-2018, when the number reached 81 percent. Conservative Democrats saw a less significant jump, with only a 15 percent increase since 2001-2006, when 29 percent of conservative Democrats supported marijuana legalization.

Image via Gallup Poll

A Gallup Poll last year stated that two in every three Americans now supported cannabis legalization. As we approach the 2020 election, those Americans will likely make sure their voices are heard.

Tiny 20 Seat Restaurant With $60 Tasting Menu Is Named World’s Best

They say the best things come in small packages, and that seems to be the case for a little-known restaurant that only takes a handful of diners at a time and is completely affordable, by most fine-dining standards.

Wolfgat, an unassuming seaside eatery located in Paternoster, a historic fishing village on the West Coast of South Africa, was recently awarded the title of Restaurant of the Year at the World Restaurant Awards.

At Wolfgat, which means “wolf cave,” the focus is  on indigenous cuisine, like seafood, lamb, venison and foraged plants. And get this, none of the staff have any formal culinary training under their belts. There’s no traditional hierarchy; there’s no distinction between chef, sommelier and front of the house staff.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bf3qGx3llM1/

According to the restaurant’s chef/owner, Kobus van der Merwe, Wolfgat couldn’t exist anywhere else. “It’s intrinsic to its environment and we collect things that you can only find around these parts.”

Travel + Leisure says dishes “rival noted eateries across the globe,” with the restaurant’s seven-course tasting menu clocking in at about $60 per person, “offering visitors an intimate experience coupled with fresh ingredients at a low price.”

RELATED: Decoding The Subtle Cues Of Restaurants

Bookings are capped at an intimate 20 diners or so, since the staff is so small and the menu needs to be sustainable.  But that only adds to its charm.

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Representatives of the awards panel wrote:

If mother nature erected a sign saying ‘build restaurant here’, it would surely point to Wolfgat. Chosen from all the inspected big plates, our inaugural Restaurant of the Year is a small, remote haven of purity and good taste in every sense.

According to the New York Post, in order to get to Wolfgat, “hungry gourmands will have to fly into Capetown and rent a car for the 2.5-hour drive along the coast. The tasting menu costs about $60, and wine pairings can be added for an extra $40.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BffuQiyA832/

RELATED: Are Cannabis Restaurants On The Horizon?

Not sure if you want the hassle? Here’s how one Restaurant Awards “inspector” described the restaurant:

“The place is super simple, rustic yet perfectly elegant. We sat by the fireplace. The restaurant is directly on the beach with an ocean view. We could watch the fishermen go out, come back and empty the catch from their brightly coloured boats. The village of Paternoster is stucco white, like somewhere in Greece, charming and not touristy. Essentially, it’s a dream of perfect balance, unspoilt charm and accessibility. You know that feeling you get when you feel that you are among the first people to discover a place?”

[h/t Travel + Leisure]

Which Oscar Nominees Will Eat The Edibles In Their Luxury Swag Bag?

Another year, another opportunity for the cannabis industry to flood the Oscars with marijuana treats. Yes, in what’s becoming an ongoing trend, top Academy Award nominees will receive a luxurious swag bag, reportedly worth close to $100,000, that will include THC-infused chocolates, CBD skin care products, and more.

By the way, this is not a ringing endorsement of cannabis from Hollywood. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has nothing to do with these swag bags that nominees receive. The party favors are instead put together independently by Los Angeles-based company Distinctive Assets, which was actually sued by the Oscars for copyright infringement a few years back.

RELATED: ‘Blazin Bev’: The Cannabis ‘Star Trek’ Crossover Memes We All Needed

Here’s a list of the cannabis-related items nominees in the acting and directing categories will receive, per The Independent:

  • Coda Signature premium cannabis-infused edibles, topicals and concentrates
  • Age Interventionist Renee Lynn’s CBDRxSupreme protocol
  • High Beauty High Five Cannabis Facial Moisturizer and High Expectations Cannabis Facial Oil Instytutum skincare products
  • An annual VIP membership to MOTA, LA’s first cannabis-friendly social club

“With our California debut just a few months away, Coda Signature is thrilled to partner with Distinctive Assets and take part in this classic Hollywood tradition,” Mark Grindeland, the Co-Founder and CEO of Coda Signature, said in a statement. “We celebrate creative artistry in everything we do at Coda Signature, and we hope that the nominees enjoy our products as much as we enjoy their exceptional contributions to the world of film.”

But who do we expect amongst the nominees will indulge in the cannabis products. Not sure if Bradley Cooper would, but his A Star Is Born character Jackson Maine definitely would. We all know Lady Gaga gets down with the weed. Sam Elliott, in a role where he was basically playing himself, toked up with Nick Offerman in The Hero, a movie that was actually marketed in many California cannabis dispensaries.

RELATED: Meme Of The Week: We Can’t Stop Talking About ‘A Star Is Born’

Wait…this is like the whole cast of A Star Is Born! Did they just light up at the end of shoot days?

Other notable suspect who could use the cannabis in their gift bag: Emma Stone, who likes to eat pot brownies then go to Disneyland; Rachel Weisz smoked a joint in that Bernaldo Bertolucci movie Stealing Beauty; Spike Lee is known to support cannabis reform; Kathy Bates admitted her and Melissa McCarthy smoked “some good shit” while filming Tammy; Christian Bale defended Michael Phelps when he got caught smoking weed; Rami Malek was part of that infamous Met Gala bathroom cigarette break in 2017, where I’m 95% positive cigarettes wasn’t the only substance available; Reddit is pretty positive Viggo Mortenson imbibes the green based on a head nod on Bill Maher’s show; and Willem Dafoe shared a joint in Platoon.

My leader in the clubhouse though is Adam McKay. You really think the guy who made Anchorman and Stepbrothers wouldn’t indulge? He even wink-winked about having pot during a Stephen Colbert appearance. Outside the Star is Born triumvirate, McKay seems most likely to partake if he found himself suddenly in possession of edibles. I hope he enjoys them. How else would you expect for the man to get through the four-hour awards ceremony?

Karl Lagerfeld’s Spoiled Cat May Become World’s Richest Feline

Karl Lagerfeld, creative director of Chanel and legendary fashion icon, died yesterday in Paris. The designer was known for his many accomplishments, eccentricities, prolific career, dark shades and the deep love he had for his cat, Choupette.

Elle speculates that Choupette, an Instagram star and probably one of the world’s most famous cats, is set to inherit a large piece of Lagerfeld’s $170 million fortune.

 

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RELATED: Is It Unethical To Give Your Cat Catnip?

Choupette has over 200,000 followers, has attended the most exclusive and fashionable events and has also modeled with Gisele Bundchen. In 2015, she (Choupette, not Gisele) made over $3 million with two modeling jobs — one for a Japanese beauty product and the other for a German car company. Choupette supposedly has an iPad, two dedicated maids, and meals served at the dinner table. According to Lagerfeld, she is also very polite and well behaved. “She has lunch and dinner with me on the table, with her own food,” he said back in 2012 , “She doesn’t touch my food.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BmhUGuSgv8x/

We hope whomever inherits Choupette treats her just as well as her former owner and ensures that her modeling career continues to blossom.

Politicians Ask FDA For Guidance On CBD By Friday

A letter to the (Food & Drug Administration) FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb was penned by a group of politicians requesting guidance with regards to CBD (cannabidiol). The letter referred to New York City’s ban on food products containing CBD and enforcement actions happening in the states of Maine and Ohio.

Representative Chellie Pingree posted the letter on her Twitter feed. It acknowledged that the FDA had posted a response with regards to CBD following the passage of the2018 Farm Bill. The letter also noted that there is a “tremendous amount of confusion among product manufacturers, hemp farmers and consumers.”

RELATED: Is The FDA Behind The Latest CBD Crackdown?

The letter said, “We are calling on the FDA to swiftly provide guidance on lawful pathways for food products with CBD.” The group asked that answers to the following questions be provided by Friday, February 22.

When will FDA provide guidance on lawful pathways for food products containing hemp-derived CBDin interstate commerce? For example, the GRAS Notification program seems as though it is one such pathway.

When will FDA hold a public meeting on the regulation of food products containing hemp-derived CBD in interstate commerce?

New York City’s Health Department has confused food producers and restaurants as well. The group initially banned all CBD food products, but then reversed course last week and delayed the ban until July 1. The information was sent out in an email to restaurant owners.

RELATED: FDA Commissioner Outlines Pathways For CBD In Food And Supplements

The NYC Hospitality Alliance said it has requested the DOH to provide guidance but has received no answers to its requests. “This aggressive enforcement is another example of New York City’s regulatory approach: issue fines first, and educate last. Issuing a violation for using CBD in food and drink is especially ironic to happen when New York is seriously considering legalizing marijuana.  Enough is enough.  The city must stop finding ways to fine our city’s small businesses.”

One manufacturer of CBD edible products said he was operating “business as usual” apparently unconcerned about the confusion created by the FDA.

This article originally appeared on Green Market Report.

Wisconsin Governor Is Seriously Pushing Marijuana Reform

There was once a time when the only way to legalize marijuana in any given state was through expensive voter initiatives. However, these types of campaigns were typically fought tooth and nail by local and state political figures and given only a fifty-fifty shot at becoming law. Even then, there were no guarantees the state would get behind them with full support. But now, the latest trend in the legalization movement has less to do with traditional advocacy groups pushing a boulder uphill and more to do with state officials attempting to guide the legislative process from the top.

Wisconsin is one of those places where the call for marijuana legalization is coming from highest state office.

RELATED: Is The State Of Wisconsin’s Drug Testing Plan Unconstitutional?

Governor Tony Evers said earlier this week that he was including a couple of pot-friendly proposals in his latest state budget – one intended to decriminalize pot possession in small amounts and other aimed at legalizing marijuana for medicinal use. This push, he says, would bring the state’s pot policies more in line with what is happening in more than half the nation, while also giving a heavy nod to those local jurisdictions who voted recently in favor of non-binding referendums supporting pot reform.

“People shouldn’t be treated as criminals for accessing a desperately needed medication that can alleviate their suffering,” Evers said.

The governor’s medical marijuana program is comprehensive in design and would service tens of thousands of patients. It allows state-licensed physicians to write recommendations for patients suffering from cancer, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic pain, severe nausea and seizures.

In addition, Evers is calling for the decriminalization of marijuana in amounts of 25 grams or less. He also plans to drum up an expungement program soon that would allow those people convicted of small-time pot offenses the opportunity to get those stricken from their criminal records.

“It’s not just about access to health care, it’s about connecting the dots between racial disparities and economic inequity,” Evers said. “Too many people, often persons of color, spend time in our criminal justice system just for possessing small amounts of marijuana. That doesn’t make our communities stronger or safer.”

Although the governor’s plan sounds great to cannabis advocates, the world on the street is that it has little to no chance at going the distance in the Republican-dominated legislature. The state is just not yet ready to venture into legal cannabis territory, according to Republican House Speaker Robin Vos.

RELATED: So Wisconsin Gov. Walker Just Evoked The ‘Gateway Theory’ For Hemp

“Without having specific details, his proposal appears to go too far,” he said. “It makes it easier to get recreational marijuana and provides a pathway to full legalization, which I do not support. I’m open to medical marijuana when it’s prescribed by a doctor but it has to be done in a targeted way without allowing recreational use.”

The upper chamber share that sentiment. Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald, who opposes medical marijuana, doesn’t believe the governor’s proposals will make it out alive.

Kylie Jenner Says Her Family Cut Her Off Financially At Age 15; Meghan Markle Grabs Dinner With Serena Williams And More Besties In NYC

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Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson Split After 2 Years of Dating

It’s over between Khloe Kardashian and Tristan Thompson.

A source tells ET that Khloe and Tristan broke up after more than two years of dating, and 10 months after Tristan made headlines when he reportedly cheated on her with multiple women while she was pregnant with their daughter, True. Khloe gave birth to True last April just days after the report broke, and the two eventually reconciled.

“There were trust issues again and she has been down that road before,” the source says. “She has to be strong for herself and True. Everyone is extremely disappointed.”

On Tuesday, Tristan tweeted, “FAKE NEWS,” then deleted it shortly after.

Khloe has yet to comment. On Monday, the 34-year-old reality star Instagrammed a picture of herself and wrote, “Are you willing to give up what you love, for who you love?” Big Sean.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/BuB5pUnh1qQ/

Meghan Markle Grabs Dinner With Serena Williams and More Besties in NYC After Baby Shower

The Duchess of Sussex is enjoying her time in New York City hours after her baby shower.

She secretly flew from London to the big city to celebrate her baby shower. She reportedly arrived on Friday, and has spent these last few days catching up with friends and exploring the city.

And it seems like her Tuesday festivities aren’t over, because she got dinner with some of her closest pals.

The former Suits actress was spotted arriving at the Polo Bar restaurant with Serena Williams, Jessica Mulroney and Markus Anderson. (He’s the one who reportedly introduced Meghan to Prince Harry.)

RELATED: 5 Strange Pregnancy Rules Meghan Markle Has To Follow

The 37-year-old royal was all smiles as she stepped out of her car, wearing a chic black Victoria Beckham Tailored Slim Coat ($3, 085), Hatch Collection Skinny Maternity Jeans ($248) and Kindred Mid-Calf velvet boots ($695).

Duchess of Sussex attended her baby shower earlier today.

“The flowers were spring colors in pretty pastel shades,” a source told E! News of the event’s decorations. “There were pink roses and cherry blossom vines. There were tons of flowers delivered before the shower started in an unmarked van. There was also a large flat cardboard box that appeared to be a convertible crib.”

The insider shares Markle’s former Suits co-star, Abigail Spencer, was “one of the first guests to arrive.” Adding, “She carried a present wrapped from Book Culture in blue and green.”

Kylie Jenner Says Her Family Cut Her Off Financially at Age 15: ‘None of My Money Is Inherited’

In a new cover story for PAPER Magazine, Jenner, 21, opened up about her finances — and responded to the backlash over her Forbes cover last summer.

In July 2018, the makeup mogul was named one of America’s richest self-made women — with many wondering if “self-made” could apply to someone from a wealthy family like the Kardashians.

To set the record straight, Jenner told PAPER that her parents, Kris and Caitlyn Jenner, “cut her off at the age of 15.”

RELATED: Forbes Gets Called Out For Labeling Kylie Jenner A “Self-Made” Billionaire

“I had such a huge platform, I had so many followers already and I had so many people watching me,” Jenner said, adding that “the self-made thing is true.”

“My parents told me I needed to make my own money, it’s time to learn how to save and spend your own money, stuff like that,” she said. “What I’m trying to say is I did have a platform, but none of my money is inherited.”

As seen Keeping Up with the Kardashians, she still lived with mom Kris until she turned 18, buying a $2.7 million Calabasas mansion in 2015. At the time, Jenner told InStyle U.K. that Kris had stopped funding her lifestyle three years earlier, “getting cut off is more of a technicality.”

“She had a refrigerator full of food and all the luxuries that come with [living with] Mom but unless it was a gift, if she wanted a new Chanel bag, Kylie was the one paying for it,” the source said.

A Beginner’s Guide To Buying Your First Smoking Piece

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Wandering through the colorful glass-filled aisles of your local smoke shop can be overwhelming. Between learning the appropriate lingo, deciding what type of piece you want, and figuring out how much you want to spend, there are some things you should know before making an investment. Luckily, we have the answers you need right here.

Where should I go?

Depending on where you live, there are tons of options for purchasing glass. In many states, there are a number smoke shops packed with pieces of all shapes and sizes within driving distance of your home. Now, here’s where the lingo comes into play. In states where cannabis is not recreationally legal, it is not okay to discuss cannabis in smoke shops. That means you can’t tell your cashier that you want to buy a bong to smoke weed without possibly getting kicked out of the store. The b-word (bong) is a no-no, and instead you should tell the cashier you’re looking for a water pipe.

RELATED: Your Guide To Blending Marijuana Types For A More Personalized High

If you aren’t sure if you want a water pipe, ask to see a few different options for smoking dry herb. If you don’t have a smoke shop nearby, you can also buy smoking pieces online. When shopping from the comfort of your couch, be sure to choose a reputable seller to avoid receiving flimsy knockoff glass. Cheap glass is typically thinner than good glass, and is much more likely to shatter when dropped or when exposed to heat. If you want a glass piece to last a long time, it’s a good idea to search for a piece made of borosilicate glass.

What kind of piece should I get?

When choosing a water pipe, bowl, bubbler or one-hitter, it’s important to consider your own smoking habits. If you’re someone who usually smokes alone and want something handheld and portable, a bowl or one-hitter could be a good option. These can be made of glass, silicone, wood, or ceramic, and can vary in size. If you’re clumsy or concerned about spending your money on something you might break, a non-glass option might appeal to you.

Water pipes and bubblers have the advantage of adding water into the mix, which cools down the smoke before you inhale it. This makes your hit a lot less harsh, and some water pipes even include ice pinches and percs to make your hit even smoother. For someone who often smokes in groups or simply wants a customizable smoking experience, a water pipe is the way to go. Bubblers, on the other hand, are a good in-between piece for people who want something smoother than a bowl but less intense than a water pipe. They usually come in a sherlock shape that includes a carb like a bowl, but they allow you to fill a bit of water at the bottom.

How much do I spend?

So you’re probably wondering how much this is going to cost you. Depending on what you choose, a bowl or one-hitter can cost you less than $5 or over $50. This depends on the size and material—if you want a unique heady piece it will likely cost a bit more.

RELATED: How To: A Beginner’s Guide To Buying CBD Products

Water pipes can have a huge price range accommodating every budget. At the smoke shop I work at, I’ve sold ones for $15 and some for nearly $1,000. In my experience, the majority of new water pipe buyers spend between $50 and $200. Brand name pieces will usually cost more and ensure higher quality, but there are also plenty of great pieces out there that won’t break the bank.

When it comes to cost, let your smoke shop cashier know how much you’re looking to spend so he or she knows what kinds of pieces to show you (they want to help!) Lastly, be prepared to get what you pay for. If you want the cheapest possible option, it probably won’t last forever or provide the best smoking quality. If you invest in a good piece it can last you for years and years to come.

5 Tips To Help Make You A Better Photographer

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Photography is a skill that’s on the rise. With the introduction of smartphones that have great cameras, more and more people are falling in love with the medium and learning about it.

Apps like Instagram and Snapseed are also helping us play around with our images so we can achieve really cool results, but there’s always more you can learn, especially when it comes to the basics of composition and getting to know the tool you’re using.

We looked around online for some helpful tips for amateur photographers. Check out some of the most useful ones:

Shoot towards the sun

 

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A post shared by Tyler Stableford (@tylerstableford) on

RELATED: Photograph The Eclipse With Your Smartphone: 5 Tips

A strong back light can lead to underexposed photos, where all you see are dark subjects with barely noticeable features. When done right, a strong back light can create striking images, especially when you play around with the exposure levels of your camera. “Bump up your exposure and keep experimenting until you strike an artful balance between your subject and the background,” recommends photographer Tyler Stableford.

Get to know your camera

Most smartphones nowadays allow you to manipulate your camera settings, modes, exposure and more, so it’s important to get to know these features if you’re interested in taking better pictures. If you own a DSLR or some other camera, play around with the features and settings, since they can improve your photos depending on the subject you are photographing.

Get to know your subject

 

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RELATED: Professional DSLR Photos Vs. iPhone Camera: What’s The Dif?

According to Outsideonline.com, portraits are all about knowing your subject and breaking down the barrier that naturally occurs when you point a camera at someone. “As a photographer, showing vulnerability opens yourself to being observed as a human, and in that moment, you are recognized as something other than a photographer, which is pivotal to helping somebody relax,” explains National Geographic photographer Cory Richards.

Keep things simple

As an amateur photographer it’s easier to start off slow than to stuff your images with a bunch of objects and action. Focus on basic images that are easy to follow. The less objects in your photo, the easier it is to create a beautiful and memorable composition.

Show off depth in your photos

Landscape photography is all about depth, which attracts the viewer’s eye and makes your photographs interesting. Leading lines can really help when it comes to depth composition. These can be fences and road tracks and guide the eye of the viewer through the length of your entire photo.

Marijuana May Help You Feel Less Lonely And Depressed

Studying possible connections between marijuana and feeling lonely and depressed may not be something you expect from scientists in Iran, but that’s pretty much what’s going on. What’s more, they have published some intriguing work with results worth a look.

Humans are social animals. Lack of social connection affects us deeply. Sleep patterns, attention and reasoning are all impacted by loneliness or feelings of temporary seclusion. On the more extreme side, isolation is complete or nearly complete lack of connection and interaction.

For decades, healthcare professionals have recognized that social isolation leads to greater incidence of disease and death. Being separated from “the pack” has the potential to alter brain chemistry, make some autoimmune diseases worse and enhances susceptibility to seizuresOther studies have shown that not only does social isolation stress lead to symptoms such as depressive-like behavior, it even alters the genes that affect neuroplasticity or how the brain learns and adapts. We are reminded of the debilitating combination of these effects by those who advocate for an end of prisoner isolation in the criminal justice system. 

RELATED: Marijuana Can Reverse The Aging Process In Humans

Social isolation stress, SIS, is a condition that researchers impose on lab animals. Social animals, like mice in this case, are separated from their peers. They are effectively placed in solitary long enough to exhibit symptoms of loneliness so severe it affects their observable behavior and ability to complete simple task tests.

In this study, the researcher chemically activated both main types of cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2. These receptors are responsible for helping receive innate and phytocannabinoids like those found in marijuana. When the receptors were activated it reduced the symptoms of depression in the mice. Inversely, when researchers chemically inhibited the receptors, depressive like symptoms were increased. 

RELATED: Here’s How Marijuana Can Help The Global Depression Epidemic

Researchers determined that, “activation of cannabinoid receptors (type 1 and 2) could mitigate depression-like behavior induced by SIS in a mouse model.” While mice outcomes do not always infer the same truth for humans, the fact that we share the large majority of active DNA with them is not lost on scientists and investors. Considering that several popular anti-depressant medicines have serious side effects including suicidal thoughts, possible application of cannabis could be very promising.

The lonely pot smoker was a popular figure in past anti-drug ads. How ironic if, for some people, using cannabis could one day be seen as an option to combat the “chemistry of isolation.”

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