I am not a motorcycle enthusiast. But if I were one & if I have the resources and the insanity to pimp out a bike, this is something that I would love to do... A drumbike! This is a treat for drummers out there who are into motorcycling.
I am not a motorcycle enthusiast. But if I were one & if I have the resources and the insanity to pimp out a bike, this is something that I would love to do... A drumbike! This is a treat for drummers out there who are into motorcycling.
Posted on 17 March 2010 at 10:27 PM in Design, Drum Stuff, Techy Stuff, Video | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBack (0)
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First of all... HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! Yesterday (11 March) was the birthday of my sister Monica Dio-Grau & my niece Nikki D. Navarro. Yes, they share the same birthdate. Nikki, the only child (so far) of my sister Binky & husband Dr. Louie Navarro, turned one yesterday. In celebration of her first birthday, I am posting my favorite photo of Nikki. She was around 7 months when this pic was taken. Here's Nikki, enjoying a book. This photo never fails to make me smile...
The family will be celebrating this Sunday afternoon, and I look forward to that.
***Recently, one Sunday, the praise and worship team had a lunch meeting with the pastor, after the church service. The pastor shared his wonderful idea. Since the Bread Of Life Ministry's theme as of late conveys Filipino pride, spirit, and nationalism, the pastor strongly urged the band to start using Filipino ethnic musical instruments. A good start can be through experimentation with our Tagalog songs. Later on, maybe it can be incorporated in our performances on a normal basis.
It's possible for us to sample these indigenous sounds through the use of samplers (courtesy of my church bandmates who happen to be full-time musical arrangers). But it would be cooler and more visually appealing to use the actual ethnic instruments. And the best part is the ministry is willing to invest on these instruments. Last Sunday, a full-octave kulintang was set up during the service. And one recent service, the praise and worship team from Davao was in town, and they have instrumentalists who played the kulintang and several other ethnic Filipino instruments. Based on recent events, the ministry is serious in promoting Filipino music with the help of our indigenous musical instruments.
This would benefit me greatly, for I've been thinking about exploring and learning about our native musical instruments. Since I'm a drummer, I do not have any knowledge with musical notes and scales, and I do not have a sense of musical pitch, I prefer to focus more on ethnic percussion instruments. The idea I have in mind is I should look for authentic Filipino percussion which I can incorporate in my drumkit setup and be able to play it with sticks. I'm thinking of something like what jazz fusion superstars Dave Weckl and Horacio "El Negro" Hernandez did with their drum set-ups. Hand drums such as bongos and djembes are positioned on the left side of Mr. Weckl's kit, and he plays these with sticks. Meanwhile, El Negro has cowbells and blocks mounted around his set-up. He even plays some of these with his foot, courtesy of a percussion bracket attached to a foot pedal. Instead of using Western and Latin/Afro-Cuban percussion, i would use our homegrown ethnic percussion.
Another inspiration I have in mind is legendary Filipino drummer Jun Regalado. I remember his famous piece where he mounted three kulintangs (placed over three cymbals) in his drum set-up, and played these in a contemporary arrangement of Sitsiritsit, a Filipino folk song. Here's a video...
We from K24/7 will be introducing our new bass player soon.
Mid-March 2010 marks my sixth year with K24/7. Wow, six years...
I just cancelled my Multiply, Friendster, and MySpace accounts. My accounts from these sites have become frequently idle, and in order to simplify my online activities, I finally decided to let go of these. Now I can concentrate more on the quality sites. Thank you to these sites for being great hosts and great social venues over the years, especially to Multiply, where my blogging life began.Earthquakes are happening all over the world. In fact, when we had this recent gig at a hotel in Makati, some of my bandmates and I can feel some earthshaking. We cannot stop Mother Nature, so the least that we can do is pray and be vigilant. Let's be prepared, in case a big one hits us on this side of the world (knock on wood).
Posted on 12 March 2010 at 06:29 PM in Drum Stuff, Drummers, Family, Filipino, Health, K24/7, Music, Random Thoughts, Video | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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I want to look back at my recording sessions, and share some of my thoughts about my drum tracks in our New Era album.
I'm planning to play more live drums on our next album, and I would love to do something more refreshing and out of the box. I'm looking forward to that.
Posted on 04 March 2010 at 01:36 AM in Drum Stuff, Drummers, K24/7, Music | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Posted on 25 February 2010 at 01:55 AM in Drum Stuff, Drummers, Video | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Also, during that visit to The Drum Shop, I was able to try out an Axis A Longboard single bass drum pedal. After a few minutes of testing, I think I found it... I think I finally found the right pedal for me. The Axis pedal is sleek and lightweight. Its design may look somewhat industrial, but it's so well-machined and I like its mechanical simplicity. I also like the fact that there are only a few parts to adjust and tinker, unlike some popular pedals out in the market right now that are too techy with all the numerous bells and whistles for individual adjustments and customization.
When I was testing the pedal on Vinci's drumkit, I immediately felt the difference. I tried various footwork techniques which I find challenging to play on a conventional pedal, and it felt notches easier on the Axis. Heel-toe, quick doubles, triplets... It was more effortless on the Axis. I even tried fast straight-ahead beats on the single pedal Axis, and it felt so much easier. And so I thought, if this seems easier, what more if I play a double-bass Axis? The longboard design plus all its components were all well-thought, and I appreciate gear that can greatly help musicians play better. I know that pedals are such personal choices amongst us drummers. But I think this is the right one for me.
The Drum Shop Manila distributes Axis products here in the Philippines. For further info, click here.
Posted on 18 February 2010 at 05:21 AM in Drum Stuff, Drummers | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Posted on 04 January 2010 at 09:30 PM in Basketball, Drum Stuff, Health, Random Thoughts, Sports, Wisdom | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
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It's been a month and a half since my last Random Thoughts blog. Let me go through this episode with a review of my recent tweets, in chronological order...
It's funny that my church bandmates and I were in a sticky situation once again, a few weeks after our Ondoy experience. We're still pretty much lucky. Despite tighter security and some interior redecorating at the crime scene, life was back to normal around the Greenbelt area the following day. I wonder what has happened with the Rolex robbery case?
You can backread that blog. But right now, I really miss having a double pedal. I'll write a Gearhead Thoughts blog soon in relation to that. Though I'm getting the hang of playing single bass, I realized that there's so much stuff that I can't do with a single pedal. I guess my feet are already wired for double bass. But every gig has become a challenge. I'm still in search for a nice single bass pedal for my personal use. But I'm planning to get a new double pedal next year. Perhaps as a reward for this challenge, I want to get the best double bass pedal I can afford. Still thinking about it...
"i watched THIS IS IT last night... got teary-eyed at certain parts... so inspiring... MJ is THE GREATEST. :)" - 1:58 PM Nov 2nd
I'm totally inspired by this documentary, and I'm glad producers decided to release it. This Is It is another testimony to the greatness, professionalism, sense of perfection, megalomaniacal tendencies, and pure spirit of Michael Jackson. Though I always thought of his Dangerous years as his prime, I'm so amazed by how great he still was, even if he's already 50! Though not as vigorous as his younger years, MJ still had the same artistic drive and passion. He never ceases to amaze people with his performance, as evident from how the young dancers were reacting to his solo rehearsals. So enthusiastic, they were like little kids again when they see their hero MJ do his thing.
Geez, it could have been an awesome show! I'll surely get a DVD copy once it's out in the market.
"Raffa (Son of Jaja Borja and Wendell Garcia) is suffering from a rare connective tissue disorder in which the skin becomes inelastic and hangs loosely in folds called Cutis Laxa. His been in and out of the Hospital for over a year and spent about a month in ICU.The fundraiser, which was held at Taboo, was highlighted by performances from several bands and artists, ranging from rock to jazz to R&B. It was one of the most fun gigs I ever had this 2009. Though bands played short sets, nothing beats hanging out with fellow musicians and appreciating great music together. But most important, we were able to help out Raffa.
Cutis Laxa is characterized by skin that is loose, hanging, wrinkled, and lacking in elasticity. The loose skin is often most noticeable on the face, resulting in a prematurely aged appearance. The affected areas of skin may be thickened and dark. In addition, the joints are loose (hypermobility) because of lax ligaments and tendons. When cutis laxa is severe, it can also affect the internal organs. The lungs, heart, intestines, or arteries may be affected with a variety of severe impairments. In some cases, hernias and outpouching of the bladder can be observed."
Paolo (06 Nov), producer Alvin (13 Nov), manager Ate Alona (15 Nov), Ryan (27 Nov), Kiko (29 Nov), yours truly (05 Dec), Ian (07 Dec)
Being a true-blue musician, I sometimes wish just to play pure music. I mean, as much as possible, I want to be organic and I don't want to become too dependent on machines, which I think is a trait I noticed from most modern musicians. It's not that I don't want to play along a sequenced track or work with a computer, which are great for certain applications, and can help certain songs, melodies, and tempos sound more consistent. Technology is awesome, and it can assist us musicians in a myriad of ways. But sometimes, it just gets too techy, and it makes me yearn to play pure, unadulterated, natural, straight-from-the-heart-and-soul music. No electronics, no gadgets and gizmos, no gimmicks... just me and my instruments.
Enough said. Just watch it. Trust me...
"though nobody has won anything yet, thanks to those who greeted us for the Wave 89.1 Urban Music Awards nomination... :)" - 6:46 PM Nov 14th
To vote for K24/7 via SMS, text "WAVE 891 UMA K24/7", then send to 2968. (Note: It's okay to use small letters; it isn't strictly all-caps. Just make sure that the format & "K24/7" are typed correctly.)
Task finally completed. 'Til the next blog.!
PS > My twenties days are numbered...
Posted on 26 November 2009 at 04:20 AM in Current Affairs, Drum Stuff, Drummers, Film, K24/7, Music, Random Thoughts, Wisdom | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBack (0)
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I know I'll be going back to double bass sooner or later, and hopefully be able to score a better set of twin pedals. In the meantime, I'm rocking and grooving on a single bass pedal. I'm going to buy a nice single pedal soon...
Posted on 26 October 2009 at 10:32 PM in Drum Stuff, Drummers, K24/7, Wisdom | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Late this afternoon, I went to check out my studio, which is already structurally complete, but still an empty room. I brought with me my Cat (5.5"x10" Black Panther Premium Maple snare drum), my Tama Iron Cobra hat stand (which has an L-arm mount attached to it, for mounting the Cat), and my sticks. I was curious with the acoustics of my room.
I have two goals for my studio room's acoustics: isolate the room in order not to disturb people around me, and make it a really good-sounding room.
I set-up my Cat on one side of the room, and played some marches and rudiments. My parents were outside, and they said they can still hear me play, but it wasn't so annoying nor disturbing. It was like lowering the volume notches down. My first goal was met, and I'm so glad because this is my biggest priority. I don't want people around me going nuts because of my drumkit's natural volume.
Regarding my second goal... The room is still bare, so understandably there's plenty of reverb. And it was loud inside! But once we have some furniture in, such as the built-in cabinets, shelves, and table on one side of the room, plus my sofa bed, a big rug for the drumkit, and some furnishings and appliances, that would greatly help with the sound absorption. I also plan to experiment on mounting diffusers/baffles/acoustic panels, which can help make my room sound and feel better.
My new studio room should be ready sometime next month.
*Thanks to my Mom for the photo above...
Posted on 18 September 2009 at 06:18 PM in Drum Stuff, Lifestyle, Music | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
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The photo above was shot last night. I dropped by at Off The Grill to check out Benjie Mendez and his new DW and Meinl gear, courtesy of Lyric. Bagets had a gig with Paolo Santos, Jano Queyquep (lead guitar) and Marlowe Mata (bass). A number of fellow drummers were present last night, which included Lyric's two representatives, Gep Macadaeg and Lester Banzuelo (Fuseboxx).
Bagets' DW drums sound absolutely amazing, and his Meinl Byzance cymbals are among the most crisp and cleanest-sounding metal I've ever heard. I feel that these instruments compliment Bagets' drumming style so well. Near the end of the first set, Bagets called me, then Jeff Lima to jam. I think Bagets wants to hear his gear played by other drummers, and/or he gave us the opportunity to try his DW/Meinl set-up. I was smiling almost the whole time when I was playing on Bagets' kit. It was such a joy to play! It really felt so good! It felt so easy playing those beautiful drums and cymbals, which responded beautifully to whatever touch or level of dynamics we play. It's like the kit is helping us play better. It's always a wonderful feeling to play musical instruments that allow us musicians to express better.
I felt very inspired after playing on Bagets' drumkit. Why? First, I'm so happy for Bagets' new endorsement deal. I can feel the happiness of my mentor, knowing the musical hardships and frustrations he's gone through all these years. He deserves all these blessings. Second, it goes to show that being truly committed and dedicated to your chosen art has its rewards. I am very aware that living a musician's life isn't a breeze, and there will always be tests and struggles along the way. But, I believe that if we musicians just keep on improving and developing, expressing our musicianship with dignity and conviction, being honest with our work, sharing the bounty, and be an inspiration to others, then it's by fate that we'll be rewarded in some ways.
As for myself, I don't know if it will mean more gigs for me and my band, or a future endorsement deal, or whatever opportunity that may come... To be honest, I don't really want to think about it. I don't want to think about potential financial or musical success, or fame, especially. Personally, I don't really want to become famous; but if it's bound to happen, I'm hoping that it will be in a positive way. Anyway, it's perfectly normal to dream on. But for now, I just want to get better as an artist. And deep inside, I feel that if we just go on, keep on learning, working hard, doing positive things, and be the best that we can be with our chosen craft, the rewards will come someday.
I'm really feeling so inspired right now...
Posted on 15 September 2009 at 11:50 PM in Drum Stuff, Drummers, Wisdom | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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Today is the birthday of Rush drummer Neil Peart. Happy Birthday!!
Many great drummers from past to present have inspired me to become a better drummer and musician. But no one else has inspired and influenced me more and in a life-changing way than Neil Peart. He is, and will always be, my biggest drumming hero; my number one drummer of all time. He not only influenced me as a drummer and musician. The man is a genius; an intellectual, a philosopher, a writer, a traveller... a brilliant and worldly human being with an insatiable thirst for knowledge and a never-ending pursuit for learning.
Many of my long-time friends are familiar with my reverence for Neil Peart. Some of you might wonder how a drummer like me, who is currently grooving with an R&B band on a regular basis and playing mainstream music for a living, was moved by one of the greatest rock drummers ever.
I first discovered Neil Peart and Rush back in high school. I was around 14. One day in school, I was hanging out during breaktime when I saw my friend and fellow drummer Rommell Garcia, and he's got this cassette tape in his shirt pocket. Out of curiosity, I asked what he had there, and it was Rush's 1989 live album, A Show Of Hands. That was the first time I saw a hardcopy Rush album. I was already reading Modern Drummer that time, and I've seen those old Ludwig and Zildjian ads with Neil on it, and he was praised so much by his contemporaries and mentioned frequently in the magazine (and they still do up to this day). I also recall a Neil Peart reply to one Ask A Pro inquiry, and I remember how long and detailed and convincing his response was. So, I was like, I have to check out this Neil Peart guy. I borrowed Rommell's tape, then listened to it at home after school.
From that moment on, life and drumming were never the same again.
Yes, I've become one of them; a Peart disciple; one of those thousands of drummers all over the world whose life was changed and enriched after hearing Neil and Rush for the first time. It must be some kind of Neil Peart obsession phase or syndrome, which I'm sure many drummers can relate with. I instantly became a fan, and got hooked to his crafty, muscular, and very creative drumming. After listening to A Show Of Hands for the first time, that was it! Going through the first few songs in the live album - The Big Money, Subdivisions, Marathon... plus numerous rewinds to recall those incredible drum parts... It was magic for me. I made a duplicate of that cassette tape, then studied it for hours and hours.
And the obsession continues. After that, I tried to look for all the Rush recordings I can find (their albums are pretty much hard to find on this side of the world). I went through my magazines and looked for any Peart-related article. I went through their recordings one by one... Moving Pictures, Permanent Waves, 2112... And the list goes on. I also got a video copy of A Show Of Hands, thanks to my buddy Michael Ong (guitarist of Fuseboxx). That was the first Rush/Peart video I've ever watched, and thanks to that, it became visually easier for me to figure out the things he played on his massive wrap-around double bass drumkit. The power, precision and craftsmanship of his drumming is phenomenal; not to mention, his integration of electronics and percussion instruments in his elaborate set-up. Seeing his Rhythm Method drum solo on video also took my Peart studies to another level, finally seeing how he did his famous solo. That time, the cross-sticking between the snare and floor tom was the killer for me. It took me all summer long figuring it out and trying to play it on my kit.
Up to this day, I still follow Rush and Neil Peart. Rush's newer albums may have mellowed by Rush standards, as compared to the more aggressive and exploratory nature of their classic 70's and 80's recordings. But the magic is still there, and they never fail to amaze me. I recently listened to their latest live recording, Snakes and Arrows Live, and they still sound so incredibly heavy, after over three decades of touring and thousands of concerts. Rush's music and Neil's drumming is timeless.
I recently got my October 2009 Modern Drummer, and it has this feature on Neil, titled "Reasons To Love Neil Peart". I am shocked that author Adam Budofsky confessed in the article that he "never loved Neil Peart", meaning, he never went through a Rush/Neil Peart obsession phase. I thought it was funny. But out of curiosity, and in order to confront his "Neil problem", he went through his research for this article, to cite the importance of Neil Peart in the art of drumming. He also invited 30 drummers who served as "panels of Neil experts", which is amazing because these drummers come from all different fields and styles of music, from jazz to R&B to metal. It goes to show that Neil's influence transcends musical boundaries; Neil's not just a rock drummer's drummer.
"Reasons To Love Neil Peart" noted 15 reasons/points on why Neil Peart is revered by many drummers. Here's my take on each of those 15 reasons...
Neil Peart's intense passion for drumming, music and life is infectious. Drumming-wise, his style has set a new standard, and has generated so much excitement to many drummers.
2. Precision and Consistency
Rush is known for replicating their recordings in their live shows, and it's amazing that after all these years, Neil is still very solid and consistent. Show after show, he is precise and consistent with his signature drum grooves and fills. And I agree, that's a hard thing to do.
3. Rising Above Technique
Neil is a technical drummer. But what I really admire the most is how creative he is in using his technique to make their music better and more meaningful. The rhythms and fills he created, it really fits the music of Rush.
4. Sound
Neil's drumkit sounds compliment his playing style. Personally, I don't prefer high tunings on toms. But according to the article, Neil tunes his toms very high (essentially in bebop range), which leads to an exciting, unique, and aggressive sound. I agree that it works very well on Rush's recordings and concerts. Neil's toms are very clear and articulate; one can hear the notes and identify which tom he's playing. Adding to his drum sounds are his signature Sabian Paragon cymbals, which has the presence, clarity, and cutting power that can match his drum sounds.
5. Ability To Garner Respect, Even From Non-Fans
Whether you're a Rush/Neil fan or not, Neil is very well-respected in many aspects. Everything he does, whatever he plays, writes, thinks, or stands for, he does it with dignity and conviction.
6. Expertise At Handling Odd Meters
My first odd meter lessons were Soundgarden, which brought me an understanding of how these are used in songs. Then, when I discovered Neil and Rush, they took my odd meter schooling to the next level. The best example is Limelight, where Neil smoothly shifts between 7, 6, 3, and 4 throughout the song. Other examples of notable Rush songs with multiple meter changes are Jacob's Ladder (from Permanent Waves), Subdivisions (from Signals), and Freeze (from Vapor Trails). I also dig how Neil mathematically breaks down or plays around time. Examples are the "7/4 War Furor" section (3:54) of By-Tor And The Snow Dog (from Fly By Night), and the 7/8 instrumental sections of Tom Sawyer (from Moving Pictures). Thanks to Neil and Rush, when I moved on to Dream Theater, Tool, Porcupine Tree, and other modern progressive groups who heavily use odd meters, I can already "get it".
7. Elaborate And Impeccably Designed Kit Setups
For me, Neil is the ultimate "poster" drummer. I enjoy looking at photos of Neil with his massive and beautifully designed drumkits. Neil's drumkits are also among the most recognizable, especially his wrap-around kit mounted on a rotating octagonal stage. Neil's use of multiple percussion instruments such as crotales, tubular bells, cowbells and blocks are also noteworthy. Many drummers dream of having a drum set-up as impressive as Neil's. Some fanatics even duplicated Neil's set-up.
8. Desire For Self-Improvement
Neil considers himself as an endless apprentice of his chosen art form. Even if he's already among the greatest drummers in the world, successful, multi-awarded and well-respected, he's not the kind of person who will be easily contented, resting in his laurels. He has the endless desire to further improve himself. During the 90's, he went to master teacher Freddie Gruber for further lessons, which has significantly improved his sense of feel.
9. Drum Solos
Neil Peart is a master of the art of soloing. His innovative structured drum solos, a frequent highlight on Rush shows, continues to awe and inspire many drummers.
10. Precisely Orchestrated Parts
Neil has created some of the most memorable drum parts in rock music. His grooves and fills on classics such as Tom Sawyer, Limelight, and YYZ (all from Moving Pictures) have become integral parts of the songs. These songs won't sound the same without those exact signature drum parts.I also dig Neil's timely use of percussion instruments and effects cymbals. Fine examples of songs with well-orchestrated drum and percussion parts are Mystic Rhythms (from Power Windows) and Tai Shan (from Hold Your Fire).
11. Incorporation Of Electronics
Neil is among those great drummers who are in the forefront of electronic percussion technology. His integration of electronics in his set-up is relevant especially during Rush's "synthesizer years" in the 80's.
12. Hi-Hat Work
Whether incorporating it on fills or driving sixteenth notes, Neil's use of the hi-hat is noteworthy. Some fine examples of Neil's amazing hi-hat work are La Villa Strangiato (from Hemispheres), New World Man (from Signals), The Big Money (from Power Windows), and Prime Mover (from Hold Your Fire).
13. Support Of Other Players
Somehow, I see Neil as an ambassador of drumming. He is known to acknowledge or give credit to fellow drummers. Even if he's more of a private person and is seldom seen on drumming events, he is very supportive to the drumming community.
14. Burning For Buddy
Neil is responsible for producing Burning for Buddy, an all-star drumming tribute to the late great Buddy Rich. It's wonderful that Neil thought of organizing such a project to honor one of the greatest drummers who ever lived.
15. Elevation Of The Perception Of Drummers
Neil's impact on all of us drummers from different walks of life and fields of music is very significant. Neil has helped put drummers on the spotlight. He is continuing how Gene Krupa elevated the status of drummers as being the guys who "just hit things and make noises on the side." For me, Neil is a "thinking man's drummer". His care, intelligence, and worldliness (according to the article), plus his boldness, creativity, passion, and inner drive and desire brought the art of drumming to higher levels. Add his brilliance as a lyricist and writer & his zest for life, reflected from being a reader, philosopher, adventurer, traveller, motorcyclist, and cyclist. Neil Peart is one brilliant human being; simply one of the most inspiring individuals on earth.
All photos from Drummerworld.com.
More Neil Peart blogs soon...
Posted on 12 September 2009 at 05:00 PM in Drum Stuff, Drummers | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBack (0)
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Posted on 05 September 2009 at 10:53 PM in Drum Stuff, Video | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
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