Filed under: Game
* 8:39 pm update: Incredible play in the 2nd OT by Martin Havlat, Logan Couture and Ryane Clowe to win Game 2 and to back up the sterling goaltending by Antti Niemi.
This is the game I thought the Sharks and Blues would play in Game 2tight, OT, Sharks win. Either way, its the one they needed. When the road team has won Game 1 in the history of the Stanley Cup playoffs, it has gone on to win the series 53.7% of the timeHUGE turn-around if the road team loses Game 1.
Now if the Sharks can scrape out Game 2, theyve got this series. Enormous win and I guess Havlat really is a difference-maker, isnt he?
-Purdy and Pollak are on the scene in St. Louis, so I wont and cant get into any cogent analysis while Im here at home and now that the series is scheduled to start in 40 minutes or so.
I can type out a few things, however, including a series prediction at the end of this take
* If you look at the history of the Stanley Cup playoffs, and the Sharks in particular, it really does boil down to a 2-game series for the team without home ice.
That would be the Sharks in this instance.
Teams that lose both Games 1 and 2 in any Stanley Cup playoff round go on to lose 86.4% of the series (according to the invaluable whowins.com).
Thats a Steve Nash free-throw attempt right there. You do not want to be on the wrong side of those odds.
You dont clinch anything by stealing one of the first two games on the road to start a series, but you do tilt the odds back your wayat the very least, of taking the series to 6 or 7 games.
And if the road team happens to sweep the first two, historically, it wins the series 75.7% of the time.
So its not about holding serve for St. Louis in these first two games, not really.
Its about the Blues hoping to get out to a 2-0 lead, which has proven historically to be a stranglehold from which few teams escape.
And its about the Sharks efforts to take it back to HP Pavilion at the worst tied 1-1.
If they go down 2-0, theyre in deep trouble the way they were in trouble against Vancouver last year after losing the first two and against Chicago in 2010 after losing the first two (at HP Pavilion).
* Game 1 is a major statistical landmark, all by itself: 76.1% of NHL road teams that have lost Game 1 have gone on to lose the series.
But if the visiting team wins Game 1, historically that team goes on to win 53.7% of the series.
Against St. Louis grinding, defensive-minded style, I would also believe its better for the Sharks to strike early, while the Blues are getting their nerves under control.
If the Blues settle down, get an early leadin the game and in the seriesId think things might swiftly start to look like the season series, when St. Louis dominated the Sharks.
My guess is that the Sharks are going to play much better in Games 1 and 2 than they did during the season seriesJoe Thornton has picked it up, and that means everybody else has to pick it up.
Plus, Marty Havlat back in the line-up has proven to be a massive positive indicator for the Sharks.
Ill guess that Antti Niemi is solid and that St. Louis gets excellent defense and goal-tending throughout.
So Ill guess the Sharks lose tonight but win Game 2 (in overtime, game-winner by Pavelski), to take it back to HP in a heads-up 1-1 situation.
And Ill predict that this will go deep. All the way to Game 7 in St. Louis.
Where Ill pick the Blues in 7, mostly because I think coach Ken Hitchcock will figure out how to win that last game on home ice.
The Sharks gave away home ice by some lousy play in the last few months. I think itll come back to haunt them. But I could be wrong. Youll let me know if I am.
April 24, 2012
Despite a drop in disposable income and other adverse changes in the economy, video game software publishers have experienced strong sales over the five years to 2012. By increasing their investment in marketing and building hype about new releases, demand has risen. Over the next five years, revenue will likely continue rising, with publishers adapting their games to new technologies and consoles. An emphasis on wireless and other emerging platforms is changing how video games are played. Companies are encouraging consumers to buy games directly through the internet, leading to higher industry profit. For these reasons, industry research firm IBISWorld has added a report on the Video Game Software Publishing industry to its growing industry report collection.
Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) April 01, 2012
Software publishing operates in a similar manner to book publishing: Developers are like authors, but publishing represents a larger slice of the software pie. Revenue for the Video Game Software Publishing industry is expected to increase in 2012 to $11.2 billion. As gaming becomes more common, the popularity of brand-name games like Halo allows publishers to charge more for games distribution, because retailers revenue depends on these high-turnover items. According to IBISWorld industry analyst Dale Schmidt, the appeal to a greater audience has led to robust annualized industry revenue growth of 3.6% over the five years to 2012, despite challenges like the recession-caused dip in disposable income and shifts in sales strategies.
Video game publishers changed how they market major releases in 2008 and 2009. Previously, companies rereleased franchise games without much accompanying marketing. However, a dip in disposable income stimulated publishers to build hype about games prior to release in order to generate sales. Mass participation in social networking, along with marketing directly to gamers via internet-connected consoles, facilitated this strategy.
Internet connectivity via consoles gives Microsoft, Sony and Nintendo an edge in marketing because they produce the consoles that most players use. By selling products through their consoles, these companies have developed a marketplace in which their games are advertised and featured beyond those of the competition. As a result, companies are encouraging consumers to buy games directly through the internet, leading to higher industry profit.
The Video Game Software Publishing industry has a medium level of concentration. Major Players include Activision Blizzard Inc., Electronic Arts Inc, Microsoft Corporation, Nintendo Co. Ltd. and Sony Corporation.
Concentration fluctuates significantly year to year. Each companys market share heavily relies on the popularity of its latest games and the newest consoles. A companys market share is also dependent on partnerships with console developers. Publishers desire to have strong relationships with console manufacturers so that they are able to provide new games for those consoles when they are released. If the company is unable to create these partnerships, its market share will likely decline when new consoles are released and they have no compatible games to offer. Also, market share shifts depending on the number of game releases. Most releases happen during the holiday season, and if publishers miss a release target date around the holidays, their sales (and market share) are expected to decline. Market share concentration is currently in a period of polarization. While the top companies continue to solidify their share of the console and PC market through their blockbuster AAA games, small-scale publishers have flooded the industry. These publishers develop and release games for distribution over the internet (for play on smartphones, tablets, consoles or PCs) for free or a small upfront fee. However, their combined revenue is still dwarfed by the revenue of major players.
The rise of smartphones has opened up a new market for publishers and allowed the number of publishers to expand greatly, says Schmidt. Smartphone game publishers can operate with only a few people, or even just one person, to develop a game for release on Apple iPhones and iPads or Google Android phones and devices. An emphasis on wireless and other emerging platforms is changing how video games are played. As publishers adapt their products to a greater variety of technologies like smartphones, streaming gaming services and interconnected TVs, they will likely appeal to an even greater audience. Sales of games for new platforms, more blockbuster releases and rereleases of previous hits are projected to boost industry revenue in the next five years. IBISWorld forecasts that revenue will grow over the five years to 2017. For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Video Game Software Publishing report in the US industry page.
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IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics
This industry includes establishments that primarily publish video game software. These establishments carry out operations necessary for producing and distributing video games, including design, documentation, installation and support services. These firms may design, develop and publish games, or they may solely be involved in publishing.
Industry Performance
Executive Summary
Key External Drivers
Current Performance
Industry Outlook
Industry Life Cycle
Products amp; Markets
Supply Chain
Products amp; Services
Major Markets
Globalization amp; Trade
Business Locations
Competitive Landscape
Market Share Concentration
Key Success Factors
Cost Structure Benchmarks
Barriers to Entry
Major Companies
Operating Conditions
Capital Intensity
Key Statistics
Industry Data
Annual Change
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About IBISWorld Inc.
Recognized as the nation’s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every US industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772.
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April 17, 2012
NASHVILLE — On Wednesday before Game 1 of his teams Western Conference Quarterfinal series against the Nashville Predators, Detroit Red Wings coach Mike Babcock talked about the benefits that center Darren Helm would bring to the lineup after missing more than three weeks with a sprained knee.
On Thursday, he found himself discussing the repercussions of Helm now having to miss the remainder of the 2012 Stanley Cup Playoffs after suffering lacerated tendons in his right forearm in Game 1. Helm underwent surgery Wednesday night at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and is expected to make a full recovery in time for training camp next season. Babcock said Helm did not suffer any nerve damage.
April 17, 2012
The last few weeks have been dominated by questions about Andrew Bynum. Petulant behavior punctuated by a pair of needless ejections will certainly get folks talking, after all. Certainly well all be talking about him today following his incredible 30-rebound game Wednesday in San Antonio.
But or all the controversy surrounding technical fouls or questionable postgame commentary or Club 17 or his respect for Mike Brown or anything else, the most unnerving element has been what appears to be a willingness to compromise his own effort. Too many moments where he simply wasnt playing hard.
Wednesday, Bynum reminded everyone what it looks like when hes fully invested defensively. It wasnt simply the 30 boards but the way in which he protected the paint and changed what the Spurs could accomplish near the basket. Bynum rotated with aggression, challenging every shot his go-go-Gadget arms could reach, all on a night where he struggled with his shot. Not surprisingly, results showed on the scoreboard, as the Lakers put together their most complete performance in weeks at their own end.
It was a throwback to the early weeks of the season, when Bynum anchored a D putting up elite numbers in the half court, embracing a role built on rebounding and paint protection before points. Yes, he scored too, but on nights when he didnt or was inefficient in the process, Bynum still showed up to play at the other end.
Lakers fans — along with Lakers coaches and players, I can only assume — welcomed the return of that guy. That guy allows them to conjure playoff daydreams with far happier endings.
Unfortunately, Wednesdays domination wasnt without a few moments reminding how hes not exactly a monument to predictability. There was the postgame interview, in which he responded to a question about joining Kareem, Mikan, Chamberlain and Baylor as the only Lakers in franchise history to grab 30 boards in a game by noting on live TV he shot like s***, man and will remember that before his other contributions.
This was after one of the strangest plays Ive ever seen. Up 14 on LAs last possession, Bynum stood at the 3-point line asking Steve Blake for the ball, ostensibly so he could launch his pet shot before the buzzer. Blake, recognizing time, space, and all accepted rules of sportsmanship, ignored him and dribbled out the clock. Undeterred, Bynum added one more example of aggressive defense to his night, attempting to steal the ball from his own point guard.
Heres the deal: If Bynum plays with the priorities, effort, and focus he showed in San Antonio, I dont really care if he turns every postgame interview into an impromptu poetry slam featuring the rhymes of 2 Live Crew or launches a hook shot from under his own basket at the final buzzer. Neither is ideal, but amounts to an acceptable trade off.
To be fair, Bynum also had a moment of humility, downplaying his glasswork with some right-place-right-time-I-got-lucky language, talked about needing to do it again, and maybe he was just goofing around with the Blake thing (though I doubt it). But the whole package makes you wonder if hell draw the right lessons from Wednesdays game, which proved how player or coach, not Brown, Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol or anyone else, has the same sort of leverage over this teams success than Bynum. Its may not be his team as traditionally defined — that title obviously belongs to 24 — but its his season to save or scuttle. What does he do with that knowledge?
Like most people, Id like to believe hell use his power wisely, that when push comes to shove well see the invested version of Bynum capable elevating the Lakers.
But like most people, you cant blame me for being unsure.
April 16, 2012
The Vancouver Canucks spotless supplemental discipline record is a thing of the past.
The first Shanaban of the NHLs second season is officially in the books, and the recipient is Canucks winger Byron Bitz. The fourth liner will sit 2 games for boarding Kyle Clifford in the second period of Game 1 versus the Los Angeles Kings. Heres Shanahan, whos down to 99 problems now that a Bitz aint one:
April 15, 2012
Manager Ozzie Guillens got a five-game suspension for comments he made to Time magazine. (Lynne Sladky/AP)
April 14, 2012
Elgin Baylor talks almost wistfully about the craft of rebounding, as if its artwork that has been misplaced or a treasure trove that cant be retrieved from deep-sea waters.
He was a 6-foot-5 forward for the Lakers when he took 30 rebounds in a 1961 game against the Cincinnati Royals. He was watching on TV when Andrew Bynum grabbed an equally striking 30 rebounds Wednesday against San Antonio.
When I first saw him, I liked him. This young man had a lot of potential and could be a terrific player, Baylor, the former Clippers general manager, said Thursday. Getting 30 rebounds is no surprise because hes capable of doing it. Hes really put together well. He has a great body.
Baylor had some advice for Bynum, whose previous career high was 23 rebounds last April against Utah. He has to be a little more consistent, Baylor said. Now he knows hes capable of doing it. He has to go out with that attitude every night.
Bynum became the fifth Laker to reach the 30-rebound barrier, joining Baylor, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Wilt Chamberlain and George Mikan.
Its a skill typically left to the taller ones, though Baylor somehow led the Lakers in rebounding a team-record seven consecutive seasons.
The Lakers stunned the Spurs, 98-84, in part by crushing them on the boards Wednesday by a bewildering 60-33 margin. When I was in high school, we had a coach who always put emphasis on rebounding. Certainly you have to play defense, but if you outrebound an opponent by a great number, it creates a lot of opportunities and youll win a lot of games, Baylor said.
Rather than grasp the significance of the event, Bynum was initially more irritated by missing 13 of 20 shots, saying, Im going to go to the gym and try to fix that.
He saved some words for his accomplishment.
They missed a lot of jump shots. They were shooting very quickly and they were coming off really nice and soft, Bynum said. A lot of them came to me. They missed airballs and they fell right to me. I just had my hands ready.
Chamberlain, who died in 1999, had the most rebounds ever for the Lakers, 42 in a 1969 game against Boston. He had 30 or more 14 times with the Lakers.
Mikan, who died in 2005, had 36 rebounds twice in 1952, against Philadelphia and Rochester.
Abdul-Jabbar had 30-plus rebounds twice with the Lakers, including 30 in a 1978 game against New Jersey, the last time a Laker hit the mark until Wednesday.
In a recent interview with The Times, Abdul-Jabbar expressed the need for Bynum to figure out a way to stay out there after a recent spate of on-court no-nos, including an ejection and a benching. But Abdul-Jabbar said Thursday that a 30-rebound game helps mitigate other stuff.
Hes got to do more of it. Once they know you can do it, theyll want more. Its good to have those expectations heightened, said Abdul-Jabbar, who hopes to visit South Africa next month as a US global cultural ambassador.
Abdul-Jabbar said Bynum could continue trending upward.
Hes getting comfortable with the game, said Abdul-Jabbar, who played four years in high school and four in college while Bynum played only two years of high school basketball before going pro. I was a seasoned veteran compared to him. All the success you see him have comes about with him consolidating his knowledge of the game and gifts of the game.
Game-time decision
It wont be known until Friday whether Kobe Bryant plays against the Denver Nuggets. Bryant missed three consecutive games because of a sore left shin, though he was improving daily and went to the team training facility Thursday for more treatment. The Lakers are 2-1 in his absence.
mike.bresnahan@latimes.com
twitter.com/Mike_Bresnahan
April 13, 2012
VANCOUVER, British Columbia — It has been a long time since the Vancouver Canucks found themselves trailing after the opening game of an NHL playoff series.
The good news for last years Stanley Cup finalists is that considering how badly they played in Wednesday nights 4-2 loss to the Los Angeles Kings, the Canucks still had a chance to win late in the game.
For their part, the Kings are bracing for a Canuck surge in Fridays second match of the Western Conference quarterfinal series. There probably wont be much alteration to the Los Angeles game plan, just more of it.
The Kings will continue to put the puck deep in the Canucks zone, then use their size to pound the Vancouver defense and their speed to pounce on loose pucks. They will rely on goaltender Jonathan Quick to make big saves.
What Los Angeles must do more of is get traffic in front of Canuck goaltender Roberto Luongo, who kept Vancouver in the opening game by making 35 saves.
We were pretty good on a lot of their top players making it hard for them, Kings captain Dustin Brown said Thursday. He made some big saves but he also saw a lot of pucks.
If there is one guy we need to make it harder on, its him. It doesnt matter how good a goaltender youve got. If he cant see the puck, hes not going to stop it. Thats something we need to be better at.
Its obvious what Vancouver must do to tie the best-of-seven series:
The Canucks must be more disciplined and not take penalties, even if a couple of the Game 1 calls were borderline. They must improve a power play that went 0-5. They cant commit turnovers like the one defenseman Alexander Edler made that resulted in Dustin Penners winning goal. And they must tighten up defensively to stop Brown and Justin Williams from combining for 15 shots on net.
Whats most surprising about Vancouvers opening-night loss is how a team that spent 10 months focused on returning to the finals could stumble so badly on the first step on that journey.
Obviously, we were expecting a better performance from our group, coach Alain Vigneault said. It didnt happen. There is nothing we can do about it.
Were working on a lot things right now.
One of Vigneaults priorities is finding a way to shackle Mike Richards, who had a goal and two assists while playing against Vancouvers second line of Ryan Kesler, David Booth and Max Lapierre.
Vigneault smiled when asked what he thought about Kesler matching up with Richards.
Im not sure I like that matchup, he said. Im going to think about that again.
We need to have an answer for the [Anze] Kopitar line. We need to have an answer for Penner, who was a powerful force. We need to have an answer for Richards, who played one of his best games Ive seen him play since he was in LA
One option against the line of Richardson, Jeff Carter and Dwight King is for Vigneault to counter with his shutdown group of Sami Pahlsson, Chris Higgins and Jannik Hansen.
The Canuck power play was sputtering even before left winger Daniel Sedin missed the final nine games of the season with a concussion. Since a Jan. 7 win over Boston, the Canucks have managed 16 goals on 120 power-play chances.
During Wednesdays game, Vigneault replaced Edler on the power play with Dan Hamhuis.
Our power play needs to be better, said Vigneault. We have the personnel for it to be good right now. We need to execute better.
Sedin missed Game 1 and didnt practice Thursday. Hes expected to miss Fridays game. The Canucks will also be without forward Bryon Bitz, who was suspended for two games for a hit on Kyle Clifford that resulted in a boarding major and game misconduct.
Clifford was injured on the play and wont dress Friday.
The last time Vancouver lost the opening game of a series was in 2007, when they were beaten 5-1 by the Anaheim Ducks in the Western Conference semifinals. They would go on to lose that series in five games. Vancouver hadnt lost the first game of the playoffs since a 6-0 whipping by the St. Louis Blues in the 2003 conference quarterfinals. After falling behind 3-1, Vancouver rallied to win the series in seven games.
The Kings last led a playoff series in 2010, when they had a 2-1 edge on Vancouver in the opening round. The Canucks won the next three games.
Neither coach wanted to get involved in a controversy surrounding a tweet that made fun of the Canucks that appeared on the Kings official Twitter feed.
To everyone in Canada outside of BC — youre welcome, said the tweet, a reference to the Canucks not being popular outside of their home province of British Columbia.
Kings coach Darryl Sutter said he respects what Vancouver has done the past two seasons.
I dont think that would come from our locker room or from our coaches, he said.
Vigneault has bigger problems to think about.
I dont care about the Twitter world, he shrugged. I care about the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Kings apologized for the tweet.
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April 13, 2012
Dont expect lefthander Andy Pettittes major league comeback to happen during the first month of the regular season.
Pettitte, who threw two innings of a simulated game Saturday, tells the New York Post his arm is fine but his legs still require work.
April 10, 2012
BOSTON ? Finally, the Boston Celtics (29-22) and Miami Heat (37-12) will meet again.
The two powerhouses took each other on way back on Dec. 27 in Miami for each team?s second game of the season. They haven?t seen each other since, but they will at 3:30 pm Sunday afternoon in TD Garden.
The Heat won the first matchup by a score of 115-107, but the game truly wasn?t that close for the majority of the night. Boston, playing without Paul Pierce, fell behind by as many as 20 points in the game and its only lead of the game was when the score was 2-0.
Still, though, the Celtics fought back after that huge deficit and made it a game in the second half. Thanks to some strong scoring from Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, the C?s cut the deficit all the way down to three with 2:02 remaining. However, rookie Norris Cole stepped in with six key points from that moment on and Miami held on for the win.
Since that time of the season there have been drastic changes for the Celtics. Boston no longer has two of the big men who participated in that game in Jermaine O?Neal and Chris Wilcox. Sasha Pavlovic, who started for Pierce, is not getting much playing time nowadays. On the flip side, Avery Bradley, who played just four minutes in the first matchup between these two teams, is now playing a major role in Boston.
Bradley has started the past four games and been fantastic in all of them. He is averaging 40.3 minutes of playing time, 15.0 PPG, 3.5 RPG and 53.5 percent shooting during that stretch. And as we all know, he always brings his frightening defense to the floor, which could make a dramatic impact against Miami?s perimeter players.
It remains to be seen what Bradley?s role will be on Sunday. His spike in playing time has coincided with Ray Allen being sidelined with a sore right ankle. Allen has not played for the Celtics since March 22 in Milwaukee. He traveled with the team to Minnesota for Friday?s game but after testing the ankle during shootaround and before the contest, it was decided that Allen was not healthy enough to play. Expect him to be a game-time decision yet again on Sunday.
Miami wouldn?t complain if Allen did not participate in this game. Allen scored a game-high 28 points on Dec. 27 and, thanks to that offense, makes the game much more challenging for Dwyane Wade.
Even if Allen doesn?t play, this Celtics team will be a handful for the Heat, who own the third-best record in the NBA. Boston has been surging forward since the All-Star break with a 14-5 record. The C?s are now in sole possession of first place in the Atlantic Division for the first time all season.
The question is, will Boston?s recent success translate onto the floor against a top-tier opponent? Since the All-Star break, the Celtics have dealt with opponents from every level of the league ? except the very top level.
Sunday will be the Celtics? first opportunity to prove that their current make-up, one that is completely different than the one Miami saw in December, is ready to make the leap.
The Pierce Factor
If you don?t remember, the Celtics nearly won this game without the services of Pierce. Pierce missed the first four games of Boston?s season with an injury to his right heel. Sasha Pavlovic started in his place and scored just five points to go along with goose eggs in the rebound and assist departments.
Suffice to say having Pierce on the floor Sunday afternoon will make a big difference.
Pierce has been playing fantastic basketball of late for the Celtics. He has scored at least 20 points in six straight games and seven of his past eight overall. Pierce has also returned to his rebounding ways, grabbing an average of 8.5 rebounds over his last six games.
On top of the statistical boost Pierce brings to the table, he?s no slouch on defense. Having his strong, 6-foot-7 frame out there defending LeBron James will be huge for the C?s. Let?s just hope he doesn?t get into foul trouble.
The Benches
We all know that Miami?s bench isn?t its greatest strength. Its top reserves are having mediocre seasons outside of big man Udonis Haslem. But sometimes one man can help win a game, and in December that man was Cole.
He came off the bench to score 20 points on 8-of-16 shooting to go along with four rebounds and four assists. He hit big shot after big shot, eventually putting the C?s away.
Boston cannot allow any of Miami?s bench players to go off on Sunday. It?s a difficult task as is to limit that powerful starting lineup the Heat send onto the floor. Allowing a big performance from the bench will make it nearly impossible to grab a win, as evidenced by that December matchup.
The C?s will rely on their top reserves, Bradley, Keyon Dooling and Greg Stiemsma, to prevent that from happening. They?re all strong defenders, and Bradley and Dooling have been coming on of late at the offensive end of the floor.
Limit the Turnovers
This can?t be said enough. Rivers will hammer this point home over and over until the ball goes up for Sunday?s game, and then he?ll continue to hammer it home throughout the contest. You just cannot turn the ball over against this dynamic Heat team. If you do, you aren?t going to win.
Boston coughed it up 24 times on the Dec. 27 game and those turnovers led to 33 of Miami?s 115 points. Rajon Rondo accounted for seven of those turnovers, and that?s inexcusable while playing against inferior point guards.
The Celtics have improved dramatically with taking care of the ball since the All-Star break. They have turned it over just 13.7 times per game in 19 games, down from 15.5 before the break. Boston has especially taken care of the ball in its past three games, averaging just 10 turnovers a night over that span. That number will need to be low yet again if the C?s are going to grab a statement win over the Heat.
April 9, 2012
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