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>Letter From Parents of Pedestrian Killed In Ridgewood

>Letter to the Editor, The Record

We would like to thank The Record and Road Warrior John Cichowski for the attention focused on the issue of pedestrian deaths in New Jersey (“Deaths jump 33%,” Page A-1, Nov. 10; “Walking is hazardous for nearly all,” Road Warrior, Page L-1, Nov. 10). Of course, prevention is key and pedestrians must be aware of their surroundings. But something not mentioned is driver accountability.

A year and a half ago on Mother’s Day, our 24-year-old son, Dan, was walking in a crosswalk in broad daylight in Ridgewood, with a green light, when he was struck from behind and killed by a motorist making a left turn. We were shocked and outraged to learn that the driver’s only charge was “failure to yield to a pedestrian.” He received a $300 fine and lost his license for three months. Based on accounts of both attorneys and other victims’ families, unless the driver is drunk or leaves the scene of the accident, greater penalties are seldom imposed.

A car can be a deadly weapon. When drivers get behind the wheel, they must assume responsibility for their actions. Far too many drivers are in such a hurry or are engaged in cellphone use that they are not fully aware of defenseless pedestrians.

Perhaps if drivers knew there were a penalty for injuring or killing a pedestrian, they would slow down and pay more attention to what is going on around them. New Jersey laws do not adequately address drivers’ responsibility regarding pedestrian safety. We urge lawmakers to consider enacting laws more in line with the horrendous consequences of these acts.

Andrea and Roger DeVries
Paramus, Nov. 12

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>$48 million dollar Referendum :if you voice a ‘NO’ in this town, you become a target.

>if you voice a ‘NO’ in this town, you become a target. Your business gets blacklisted. You don’t get invited to houses to lunch. You become a social outcast. Why? Because you are viewed as a miscreant.

I have coached, volunteered for numerous Village, sports and school groups and committees. I raised a LOT of money with other dedicated parents.

And I have seen the waste, control and abuse. I’ve had enough. I’m voting NO because it is what my conscience tells me to do. It’s what my kids would expect of me because of the values I have taught them.

I’ll never engage in the ad hominem attacks against those who disagree with me have leveled against me. However, I will never try to lie and attempt to deceive people into voting NO along with me.

I am of the opinion that that BOE has not been up-front with us and expects us to blindly follow. I will not. That is why I spend time educating myself on issues here and within Bergen County.

Here in Ridgewood, I hear the phrase “we can’t do that” instead of “why can’t we do that?”. These extreme times demand representatives on the board that have imagination and intestinal fortitude. Instead, I see capitulation and group think. The last free thinkers have been assimilated by the machine that is the BOE. I used to respect them, and unless they have a change of heart before the bond goes to vote, they will never again receive my vote or financial support.

You’re right, 1133, we should let the garbage take a rest – but I ask you, do you believe in this bind ref 100%? Because if you have any reservations that this is the latest lapse of imagination and leadership by those who work for and represent us, I would ask that you hold them to the job they promised to do.

Money will not solve this problem. It’s time for a new plan.

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>9/11 Trials: This Obama Administration and AG Holder have set a catastrophic precedent for years to come.

>War criminals should not get civilian trials nor receive US constitutional rights unless they are citizens.

Despite the obstructionist tactics used by the Left, the Bush administration should have moved to begin war tribunals faster.

Were I arguing for the defense, I don’t see how these guys can get a fair trial, especially being blocks from the scene of an American tragedy.

If it took four years to prosecute Zacarias Moussaoui. This circus will take years, cost tens of millions of dollars and give a forum to these bastards as they are paraded in and out of court. The families and friends of the 3,000 will be forced to relive this over and over.

This Obama Administration and AG Holder have set a catastrophic precedent for years to come.

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>Never Forget 9/11

>

Friends,

Well, yesterday was quite a day. The response to our call to action has been overwhelming. We have almost 100,000 signatures on our letter challenging Obama’s flawed policy of trying the terrorists/war criminals who murdered our family & friends on September 11, 2001 in civilian federal courts.

The signatures include our many families of the victims of September 11, 2001 as well as many from the FDNY, NYPD and PAPD and retired military. But most of the signatures are from proud Americans who are as disgusted as we are with this abomination. We are organizing all the information and we will post all the signatures on Monday.

Check back here for updates and stay tuned for our next move!

THANK-YOU!

Tim Brown

theBravest.com

[email protected]

Michelle Malkin says:

If this White House thought Tea Party activists were an “angry mob,” wait until they see the backlash from 9/11 family members and their supporters nationwide. We’re not going to sit down and shut up about the reckless, security-undermining Obama 9/10 agenda and conflict-of-interest-ridden AG Eric Holder.

Call them out.

Recently, Congress voted down a bi-partisan bill that would have ensured that the terrorists who brought death and destruction to our homeland on September 11, 2001 would be tried as war criminals in military courts, not as common criminals tried in civilian courts with full Constitutional protections on American soil. The Obama administration has not been truthful with the public about the risks associated with bringing these cases in federal court, where critical evidence will be excluded, classified intelligence will be made available to our enemies, foreign counterterrorism partners will be exposed and the “mastermind of 9/11” will be allowed to mock his victims just blocks from where they died.

theBravest.com has partnered with 9/11 Families for a Safe & Strong and America and Keep America Safe to bring attention to this travesty. We are recruiting the families & friends of the FDNY to combat this ill-conceived policy of the current administration.

This week letters were sent to President Barack Obama, Attorney General Eric Holder and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates questioning the wisdom of bringing these terrorists onto US soil to try them in civilian courts for their grievous crimes against this great country, including the murder of 343 New York City firefighters.

93 of them were my friends.

They were all my brothers.

I cannot stand by and let this happen without a fight.

Read the letter HERE. https://www.thebravest.com/ObamaLetter110909.htm

CLICK HERE if you would like to add your signature. https://www.keepamericasafe.com/petition_signup/

Thank-you,

Tim Brown

FDNY-Retired, 9/11 Survivor

[email protected]

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>Wyckoff jeweler to host hunt for bags of bling

>Wyckoff jeweler to host hunt for bags of bling
Friday, November 13, 2009
Last updated: Friday November 13, 2009, 9:55 PM
BY JOAN VERDON
The Record
STAFF WRITER

https://www.northjersey.com/news/Wyckoff_jeweler_to_host_hunt_for_bags_of_bling.html#

A Wyckoff jewelry store will be giving away more than $25,000 worth of diamonds, sapphires and pearls in pieces of jewelry next week to people lucky enough to find gift bags she plans to hide in nine northern Bergen County towns.

Nancy Schuring, owner of Devon Fine Jewelry, said she is hosting the giveaway to celebrate her 30th anniversary in business, and to give back to the communities that support her store by offering people the surprise of finding a precious gem in a park, at a soccer field, or other public place. Store employees will start placing the bags midday Monday. Schuring sent letters to the police chiefs in all of the towns notifying them of the promotion.

“We’re going to make some people’s day,” she said.

Schuring is following in the footsteps of other jewelers around the country, who have found similar “Finders Keepers” giveaways to be valuable publicity tools. A Google search of “Finders Keepers” giveaway turned up numerous examples of similar giveaways around the country.

Her giveaway, however, is one of the more generous. A total of 30 packages with rings, bracelets and earrings worth $27,750 will be hidden over four days, starting on Monday. The jewelry will be contained in small white Devon bags marked with “Finders Keepers” tags, and containing a letter explaining that is OK to keep the merchandise in the bag. The priciest giveaway item will be a platinum diamond and sapphire ring worth $3,000.

Schuring said she is hoping people who find the bags will call her store and tell her where they found it and their reaction. The bags will be hidden in Wyckoff, Ridgewood, Midland Park, Franklin Lakes, Waldwick, Allendale, Ramsey, Mahwah and Oakland.

E-mail: [email protected]

https://www.northjersey.com/news/Wyckoff_jeweler_to_host_hunt_for_bags_of_bling.html#

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>$48 million dollar Referendum: I don’t see anything in there that says they must "budget and spend" on a yearly basis.

>Below is directly from the New Jersey DOE in response to an email I sent requesting information about BOE budgets and Capital Projects.

“Districts are permitted, but not required, to set aside funds into capital or maintenance reserve accounts briefly described below.

1. Capital Reserve – The capital reserve account allows a district to accumulate funds for future capital projects. Once funds are deposited into a capital reserve, they may only be used for capital projects and are not available to be used for general district expenses. The maximum amount that may be placed into a capital reserve is the district share needed for projects included in the long-range facilities plan prepared by the district. Deposits into a capital reserve can be budgeted in the annual budget, or can be made by board resolution between June 1 and June 30 with unanticipated revenue or unexpended appropriations.

2. Maintenance Reserve – The maintenance reserve allows a district to accumulate funds for payment of required maintenance expenses. Once funds are deposited into a maintenance reserve, they may only be used for required maintenance expenses. Deposits to a maintenance reserve can be budgeted in the annual budget, or can be made by board resolution between June 1 and June 30 with unanticipated revenue or unexpended appropriations.

3. Emergency Reserve – The emergency reserve allows a district to accumulate funds for payment of expenses for emergency circumstances that were not budgeted for the year. The maximum balance permitted in an emergency reserve is the greater of $250,000 or 1% of the general fund budget not to exceed $1 million. Deposits to an emergency reserve can be budgeted in the annual budget, or can be made by board resolution between June 1 and June 30 with unanticipated revenue or unexpended appropriations. Withdrawals from the emergency reserve require approval from the Commissioner of Education, unless the withdrawal is necessary to meet an increase in total health care costs in excess of 4% over the prior year.

Note that if a district has applied and received Commissioner approval to exceed the annual 4% tax levy cap, then that district is not allowed to make deposits into the capital, maintenance or emergency reserves for the year in which the approval was granted. School districts are also allowed to keep an unreserved surplus of a maximum of 2% of their general fund budget for items that may arise during the year.”

I don’t see anything in there that says they must “budget and spend” on a yearly basis. I see that they can’t use the Captial Projects money for anything other than Capital Projects and that each district may keep a maximum of 2% of their general budget in reserve for unexpected expenses. I also see that Districts who exceed the 4% tax levy cap can not make deposits into a Capital Projects reserve. It is my understanding that Ridgewood does not exceed the 4% tax levy cap.

As much as the BoE lackey’s wants to assert the opposite, the district is allowed to have a capital reserve maintenance fund. Please refer to NJ State DOE:

https://www.state.nj.us/education/code/current/title6a/chap23a.pdf

Need an example? Teaneck just had a drawdown from their capital reserve fund for extra ordinary repairs:

https://www.teaneckschools.org/v2/download.php?file=823

Specifically, page 9.

The real question to the BoE is WHY have you not established a capital reserve fund, as allowed by NJ DoE, and WHY are you not funding it??

Do NOT treat me, nor the concerned citizens of this Village as the imbeciles you think we are.

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>$48 million dollar Referendum :dont make the children of Ridgewood pay for past mistakes

>We need to look at how our BOE is run, and how Trenton wastes out tax dollars. Beyond that? Its way too easy to call out the Super’s Blackberry and laptop. Its easy to post comments on a blog, being critical of what a secretary gets paid. Low hanging fruit.

All of these are symptoms of a much larger problem: government waste. NJ is corrupt. Fight to change it, locally with our village gov and the bathroom at vets… then fight in Trenton with your vote.

Until then, dont make the children of Ridgewood pay for past mistakes. This bond vote comes at a critical time. Our schools are in need of repair.. NOW, not later, after you all “send your message” to the administrators, secretaries, and teachers out there. Stop mixing the facts until their suit your view. PS… same secretaries, teachers, and administrators whom you’ll all be buying holiday gifts for next month. Tell them then to their faces that you think they’re overpayed. Opps..! I didnt think you would.

Critical vote… critical time. My family supports this and we are willing to pay more per year to service this debt. Interest rates are historically low. Do it now. 3-4 years from now, when the economy has turned around, you’ll all be on board? No way. You’ll then be complaining about the high interest rates on the bond. You cant have it both ways.

If you have a leaky pipe in your house, or a leaky roof over your head, do you fix it? Do you take out a home equity loan, at low rates, to do so? Or do you sit your family down at the dinner table and say “This is a lesson for you all. We’re going to suffer through it. Just ignore the water and the mold.” OR, do you address the need… fix it, and get on with your life? Find a way to pay for much needed repairs and improvements? Would you tell your kids that the leak was from the previous homeowners, so you dont want to pay to repair it?

We support this, as do MANY families in Ridgewood. Dont bother with your references to my “BRATS”… it wont change my vote.

YES !

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>Tea Parties Against Amnesty and Illegal Immigration rally.

>
Tea Parties Against Amnesty
Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Bergenfield/Dumont NJ

Special guests
Steve Lonegan former Mayor of Bogota, NJ and candidate for New Jersey Governor in the Republican primary .

Carmen M. a former spokesperson for “You Don’t speak for Me” an organization sponsored by FAIR (Federation for American Immigration Reform) located in Washington DC.

Please join us by attending a Tea Parties Against Amnesty and Illegal Immigration rally.

Location
Dumont, NJ at Columbia Ave in front of the Stop & Shop one block north of the Bergenfield City hall and Police Department.

Time
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM

President Obama along with Republican and Democrat DC insiders are preparing a mass ‘Comprehensive’ Amnesty for illegal immigrants in America that will provide a path to citizenship and turn illegal aliens into voters even though a vast majority of Americans oppose this.

This will only bring more ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION to America!

It is time for Americans of every race, religion, and political party to unite and make it OUR MISSION to stop amnesty, stop and reverse illegal immigration, and place America back in the hands of We The People.

MAPS AND EVENT LISTINGS AT
www.AgainstAmnesty.com

The Stop & Shop is allowing us to park in their lot providing we go in and buy something: an apple or something. Please park on the Columbia Ave side of the lot. Put your Stop & Shop receipt on the dashboard of your car.

Thanks

Ron Bass
[email protected]

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>Graydon: home sale vendors needed for holiday bazaar

>Seeking home sale vendors

A lovely home space has been offered to the Coalition for a holiday bazaar fundraiser on the Sunday of Thanksgiving weekend (November 29). And we want to hold one!

Know of any vendors who do high-quality home-based sales (candles, kitchen equipment, holiday specialties, hand knits, quilts, toys, and so on) in the Ridgewood area? Please write to Pat Hensley immediately at [email protected]. Provide as much contact information for each vendor as you can.

If you create or sell unique items yourself, this will be a fine way to share your wares, help your neighbors do their holiday shopping early, enjoy a social day, and aid the Coalition.

Our new car magnets, lawn signs, and possibly other items will be sold there, attracting Coalition supporters.

Please ask your friends if they can recommend vendors also. Thanks!

Swimmingly,

Marcia Ringel and Suzanne Kelly, Co-Chairs
The Preserve Graydon Coalition, Inc., a nonprofit corporation
“It’s clear—we love Graydon!”

[email protected]
www.PreserveGraydon.org

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>Update on steven rondos the ridgewood attorney charged with stealing from the disabled

>https://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202435221538&rss=newswire

Disbarred Attorney Pleads Guilty to Guardian Account Thefts

Vesselin Mitev
New York Law Journal
November 06, 2009

A former Brooklyn, N.Y., lawyer has pleaded guilty to fleecing millions of dollars from guardianship accounts he oversaw for incapacitated seniors and children.
Steven T. Rondos and his law firm, Raia & Rondos, were indicted in January on money laundering and grand larceny charges for stealing more than $4 million. On Wednesday, Rondos pleaded guilty to all 19 counts of the indictment, said his lawyer, Franklin A. Rothman.

Rondos, who has been free on bail, “acknowledged fully that he committed some wrongful takings,” Rothman said, but added that the amount taken was “very much in dispute.” He said Rondos had paid back around $1 million before any probes had begun. It was later discovered that at least 16 court examiners who oversaw Rondos had signed off on his reports without detecting any red flags. Five examiners resigned in the wake of the investigation and one was suspended.
Rondos, who has since been disbarred, faces six to 18 years in prison when sentenced on Jan. 22.

The law firm has pleaded not guilty; its case is on the calendar for Dec.

https://www.law.com/jsp/article.jsp?id=1202435221538&rss=newswire

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>Authorities examine possible financial links between Pakistan, Fort Hood shootings suspect

>12:00 AM CST on Thursday, November 12, 2009
By DAVE MICHAELS / The Dallas Morning News
[email protected]

https://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-shooter_12pro.ART.State.Edition2.4b9e6b3.html

Mystery of money

Hasan’s finances have been a mystery since last week, when the Army major and psychiatrist allegedly shot and killed 13 colleagues at the sprawling Central Texas military base. Hasan earned more than $90,000 a year and had no dependents, yet lived in an aging one-bedroom apartment that rented for about $300 a month.

“You can bet there is an ongoing, extensive investigation into every single financial transaction he made,” said Matt Orwig, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Texas who has no direct knowledge of the Hasan case. “Federal investigative agencies are very good at tracing the flow of money, both to him and from him.”

Authorities know that Hasan sent repeated e-mails, starting some time in December 2008, to a radical Muslim cleric in Yemen. That cleric, Anwar al-Awlaki, formerly served as imam of a large northern Virginia mosque where Hasan worshipped. The U.S.-born cleric praised Hasan after the massacre as “a hero.”

In January, al-Awlaki told readers of his blog about “44 ways to support jihad” – a term often translated as “holy war.” Many of his points dealt with ways to fund such efforts.

“Probably the most important contribution the Muslims of the West could do for Jihad is making Jihad with their wealth,” al-Awlaki wrote. “In many cases the mujahideen are in need of money more than they are in need of men.”

He also stressed the importance of “avoiding the life of luxury.”

A spokesman for the U.S. Justice Department referred questions Wednesday to the FBI, which didn’t return a message seeking comment. FBI officials have said they studied Hasan’s communications with an unnamed radical Muslim and concluded they were a harmless part of his academic research.

Hoekstra said he wants to know whether authorities knew about Hasan’s behavior when they decided his contacts with the Yemeni imam were essentially harmless.

“The conclusion based off just the e-mails might have been perfectly legitimate,” Hoekstra said. “But if the [terrorism] analyst for some reason didn’t have access to all this other information, that might be where the problem is.”

Hard trail to follow?

Matthew Levitt, director of counterterrorism and intelligence at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, said wire transfers to Pakistan would be “extremely significant in terms of a potential network for this particular case.”

Tracing money to Pakistan could be easy if Hasan used a formal bank or wire service. It would be more difficult if he sent money under another name or used an informal channel known as hawala that is popular in Pakistan and doesn’t involve paperwork.

“If it turns out the person was radicalized to the point he was sending money to other insurgents or other terrorists, that takes it to another level still,” Levitt said.

Staff writers Brooks Egerton and Jim Landers contributed to this report.

https://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/nation/stories/DN-shooter_12pro.ART.State.Edition2.4b9e6b3.html

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>the Village of Ridgewood : Man about Town

>NOVEMBER 14th – “OPERATION MEDICINE CABINET”

On Saturday November 14th the Ridgewood Police Department will be participating in “Operation Medicine Cabinet”

A Day to Get Rid of Your Unused, Unwanted and Expired Medication

The program is sponsored by the Drug Enforcement Administration NJ Division.

The purpose of the program is to reduce the availability of prescription drugs to teens throughout the state. Abuse of prescription drugs amongst teens is on the rise nation wide, primarily due to the fact that they readily available in the family medicine cabinet. In addition teens are also abusing over-the –counter drugs such as cough medicine. Beyond the dangers associated with the abuse of prescription drugs, many teens may turn to similar street drugs once their family supply ends.

Between the hours of 10am and 2 pm community members will be able to properly dispose of their unused and expired medications. Special containers will be located at the Ridgewood Police Department lobby in Village Hall. Det. Peter Youngberg will be present to answer questions and assist citizens with the disposal process.

The process is anonymous, no questions will be asked or identification requested.

Individuals may dispose of medication either in its original container or by removing the medication from its container and disposing it directly into the drug disposal box.

If the original container is brought for disposal, it will be recommended that the label if it contains personal identifying information. The label should be removed prior to placement into the disposal box.

Liquid products, such as cough, should remain sealed in their original container. The depositor should ensure that the cap is tightly sealed to prevent leakage.

Syringes and other sharp instruments will not be accepted.

If a resident can not make the event date, they can refer to the Operation Medicine Cabinet website (https://www.operationmedicinecabinetnj.com) for further information.

The website provides the Federal Guidelines from the Office of National Drug Control Policy, for proper disposal of prescription drugs when drug take back programs are not available;

1. Remove prescription drugs from their original containers.

2. Mix drugs with undesirable substance, such as cat litter or used coffee grounds.

3. Put the mixture into a disposable container with a lid, such as a margarine tub or into a sealable bag.

4. Conceal or remove any personal information, including Rx number, on the empty containers by covering it with black permanent marker, duct tape or by scratching it off.

5. Place the sealed container with the mixture and the empty drug containers in the trash.

NOVEMBER 16th PLANNING BOARD MEETING ON H ZONE CANCELLED

THE NOVEMBER 16, 2009, SPECIAL

PLANNING BOARD MEETING

ABOUT THE H ZONE

HAS BEEN CANCELLED

A NEW DATE HAS NOT YET BEEN SCHEDULED.

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>The Travel Center hosts cruise night November 18 at Blend

>10 21 09TravelCenterBlogAdLong2%5B1%5D
The Travel Center/American Express Travel Service Representative
Azamara & Celebrity Cruises

invite you to a cruise night at :

Blend Restaurant
17 Chestnut Street,
Ridgewood, NJ
November 18, 2009
6-8 PM


Tapas
Cocktails at Happy Hour Prices
Seating is limited – Reservations required
Call The Travel Center 201.447-3311
Special Event Pricing!

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>BLEND: JOE CAROLLO & RICHIE’S THE 30’S ARE THE NEW 20’S BIRTHDAY BASH

>14267 173980658949 158670863949 2739700 4294662 n

THIS FLIER IS CLASSIC AND I HOPE EVERYONE GETS A GOOD LAUGH OUT OF THIS ONE. YOU ONLY TURN 30 ONCE, SO WHY NOT ENJOY IT RIGHT! FREE ADMISSION FOR ANYONE THAT WANTS IT, JUST COME DOWN THIS THURSDAY NIGHT AND CELEBRATE MY 30TH.

LADIES I HAVE FREE CHAMPANGE FOR ANY GROUP OF 6-8 GIRLS THAT RSVP’S, A FREE BOTLLE OF YELLOW OR… PINK CHAMANGE. COMPLEMENTS OF ELITE AND UPSCALE PROMOTIONS.

$5 UV VODKA COCKTAILS ALL NEXT.
“TRY THE VIAGRA COCKTAIL ITS ADDICTIVE”

6-9PM DJ RICHIE RICARDO
HAPPY HOUR 1/2 PRICE OFF ALL YOUR FAVORTIE COCKTAILS.
MUSIC FROM THE 80’s-TODAY (House, Hip-Hop, Rock)

9-12AM DJ SHANT AND DJ RENOWN TEARING UP THE TURN TABLES. (House, Hip-Hop, Rock)

CLOSING OUT THE NIGHT DJ BRIAN EDWARDS PLAYING THE BEST OF THE BEST!Read More
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