The Wheelman

Book Description

Meet Lennon, a mute Irish getaway driver who has fallen in with the wrong heist team on the wrong day at the wrong bank. Betrayed, his money stolen and his battered carcass left for dead, Lennon is on a one-way mission to find out who is responsible—and to get back his loot. But the robbery has sent a violent ripple effect through the streets of Philadelphia. And now a dirty cop, the Russian and Italian mobs, the mayor’s hired gun, and a keyboard player in a college rock band maneuver for position as this adrenaline-fueled novel twists and turns its way toward its explosive conclusion.
One thing’s for sure: This cast of characters wakes up in a much different world by novel’s end—if they wake up at all.

Customer Reviews:

Brilliant hard-boiled crime fiction at a furious pace.......2007-09-12

Hard-boiled crime fiction, by which I mean crime fiction from the perspective of law-breakers, from the perspective of people for whom legality is profoundly unimportant, has become very difficult to find. Classic contributions to the genre have dropped out of print, as parlor detective fiction clogs the shelves. "The Wheelman" is not only a welcome hard-boiled novel, but a brilliant one at that. The pace is extremely fast, but, at the same time, Swierczynski manages to find each character's unique voice, and those voices are often hilarious.

The Best Crime Thriller Debut Since...Well, Ever!!.......2007-05-14

I had the privilege of reading Duane Swierczynski's This Here's a Stick-Up: The Big Bad Book of American Bank Robbery, his non-fiction tome of bank robbery facts and figures, a few years back when it first came out. In THE WHEELMAN, Mr. Swierczynski takes fact, mixes it up with a whole lot of fiction, and comes up with a thrilling crime debut that's well worth the read!

We first meet Lennon, a wheelman or get-away driver, waiting outside a Wachovia bank in Philadelphia as his two associates, Bling and Holden, get caught on their way out of the bank with the $650,000 take. Somehow, Lennon, a mute Irishman who knows nothing more about robbery than how to get away, manages to retrieve his buddies and hightail it out of the city. Unfortunately, someone--in the form of a black SUV--manages to stop Lennon and the get-away car in its tracks.

Cue to Lennon, supposedly dead, in the process of being dumped into a pipe at a Philadelphia Children's Museum construction site. Thankfully, Lennon's not as dead as he looks, and he manages to outsmart his two body-dumpers. Not so fortunate for them when they realize what a pissed-off Irish mute can do for revenge.

Suddenly, getting out of Philadephia isn't as easy a trick as it was supposed to be. Bling and Holden appear to be dead at the bottom of said pipe, the $650,000 is missing, there's a few retired ex-cops on his butt, and both the Russian Mafiya and some old-time Philadephia mobsters are after him--and everyone wants a piece of the bank take.

As things go from bad to worse, with blown-up buildings, lots of gunfire, knife torture, and some really cool close calls, THE WHEELMAN leads us on a chase to find the money from the bank heist and get the heck out of dodge.

Besides being an action-packed, edge-of-your-seat crime thriller, THE WHEELMAN is just pure fun. With interesting facts thrown in--I hadn't realized that it was DilLINger, not DillinGER--and some laugh-out-loud moments--trademark "Scratch-Your-Balls-Until-The-Feds-Arrive"--this is one book you really don't want to miss.

Strong Crime Novel With A Distinctive Voice.......2007-01-26

I thought this was a strong crime novel written by a new writer with a very distinctive voice. I didn't pick this out for myself, it was a gift from a friend, and I appreciated it very much. I can't wait to read other books by the same author!

A silent Parker.......2006-12-20

For those of you familiar with Richard Stark's anti-hero thief Parker, Philadelphia writer Duane Swierczynski's Irish mute Lennon may strike a familiar chord. Lennon might not be a riff off of Stark's original, but in many ways he's certainly cut from similar cloth, and that certainly makes him interesting.

Vying with Lennon for top billing in a field stuffed with memorable characters, is the City of Brotherly Love herself. She is a setting lovingly (if unblinkingly) rendered by the Phildelphia native Swierczynski. I love books where the setting comes alive so much so that it is yet another character in its own right. Swierczynski does precisely this in "The Wheelman."

The pace on the novel is good, the supporting characters vividly drawn. I defy anyone who reads this to forget either the college student keyboardist, the corrupt ex-cop, or the Russian don who are all involved to varying degrees in this plot. My only reason for giving it four stars instead of five was that the violence was so over-the-top (and perhaps that was the author's point) that I was not able to suspend belief all the way through it. It seemed to me that Lennon ought to have been either dead or in a coma long before the novel's explosive climax.

That said, this is a terrific book, a tour-de-force first offering, and I can't wait to dive into Swierczynski's next book, "The Blonde."

Great until the End.......2006-12-15

As noted by other reviewers, reading this book is the literary equivalent of being shot out of a cannon. Only Lee Child and Ken Bruen write prose this sparse.

There is an amazing array of low lifes, mobsters, and gang members populating this tale. Their dialogue is captured richly. The action is non stop and the plot twists would make a Slinky look like stright copper wire.

The author did seem to get fatigued at the end and wrapped the book up too soon. I liked the way he used news clippings to tie down several points in the plot that were hanging. But some of those 'hangings' were only there because he rushed the end.

Still, The Wheelman is a cracking good read and I look forward to the author's next work.

The Door in the Wall and Other Stories (Wheelman Press Classics)

Average customer rating:

The Door in the Wall and Other Stories (Wheelman Press Classics)
Wells H.G
Manufacturer: Wheelman Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Short Stories | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Short Stories | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
ASIN: 1411631382

Product Description

Many consider H.G. Wells the father of modern science fiction. Many of his novels are timeless classics, like "The Island of Dr. Moreau" and "The Invisible Man." But he's probably best known for stories like "The Time Machine" and "War of the Worlds," stories of such imagination that they have been made into movies several times, including the recent remake of "War of the Worlds" by Steven Spielberg, starring Tom Cruise. But Wells also wrote many short stories, particularly early in his career. Much of these early stories are precursors to some of his later novels, but are often hard to find or completely out of print today. But now, one of Wells' classic short story collections, "The Door in the Wall and Other Stories" has been brought back in print by WheelMan Press in an attractive 6" x 9" trade paperback edition.

Official Strategy Guide; The Wheelman is Back Driver 2

Average customer rating:

Official Strategy Guide; The Wheelman is Back Driver 2

Manufacturer: GW Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GT0V9U

Soldier / Wheelman Class Guide (Spycraft)

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Soldier / Wheelman Class Guide (Spycraft)
Chad Brunner; Shawn Carman; B. D. Flory; Scott Gearin; Patrick Kapera
Manufacturer: Alderac Entertainment Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1887953612

Product Description

They are the agency's secret weapons . . . Its failsafe against global domination . . . Honorable warriors of a secret war . . . . . . and our last, best hope for peace. The Spycraft Soldier/Wheelman Class Guide greatly expands the options available for combat- and chase-oriented agents, offering all the material needed to run epic-scale combats or astounding cases under the most unexpected conditions and in the most exotic locations. Contained in this exhaustive volume are rules for building the finest combatants in the world and fielding them against the most awesome technologies available today! This essential Spycraft mechanics expansion includes . . . The Spycraft Vehicle Guide! Requisition any vehicle in existence today and outfit it with all the latest masterwork upgrades, weapons, and gadgets! Thousands of vehicle combinations await you within! Rules for heavy personal ordinance, including fixed cannon emplacements, automated missile racks, tank-killing rocket launchers, vehicle-towed howitzers, and much more! Expanded chase options, including many new maneuvers and rules for vehicular combat (both on or in vehicles), off-roading, aerial dog-fighting, skydiving/freefall, and scuba diving chases, races, expanded vehicle failures, and more! Twelve brand new prestige classes focusing on activities most commonly performed by soldiers and wheelmen, including the high-flying ace, the gear - and vehicle-building armorer, the battlefield grunt, the depth-defying mariner, the combat medic, the armor-specialist slammer, and more! Twenty new department options, including two 'macro-departments' (officer training and military academy training), which allow the agents to personalize their department bonuses! Over 35 new feats, expanding the existing Spycraft feat trees! Over a dozen new skill uses, including new knowledge, mechanics, profession, and vehicle tasks!

The Wheelman; an illustrated magazine of cycling literature and news (All Published and Complete in Two Volumes [3 Nos] - October 1882 - September 1883)

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The Wheelman; an illustrated magazine of cycling literature and news (All Published and Complete in Two Volumes [3 Nos] - October 1882 - September 1883)
Samuel Sidney (1857-1949) McClure
Manufacturer: Boston, The Wheelman Company
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
ASIN: B000H4EFPU

Average customer rating:

The Art of the Wheelman

ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GKYKGE

The Capital City Wheelmen of the 1890's (Golden notes)

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The Capital City Wheelmen of the 1890's (Golden notes)
M. Beth Fulton
Manufacturer: Sacramento County Historical Society
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B000736VQM

In and around Cape Ann: A hand-book of Gloucester, Mass., and its immediate vicinity. For the wheelman tourist and the summer visitor,

Average customer rating:

In and around Cape Ann: A hand-book of Gloucester, Mass., and its immediate vicinity. For the wheelman tourist and the summer visitor,
John S Webber
Manufacturer: Printed at the Cape Ann Advertiser office
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

The indispensable tourist's and wheelman's guide to the Niagara district, with maps

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The indispensable tourist's and wheelman's guide to the Niagara district, with maps
James Main Dixon
Manufacturer: Niagara Falls Advertiser
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding
ASIN: B00088C5JS

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Special report of field examination
Donald G Wyant
Manufacturer: U.S. Dept. of Interior, Geological Survey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Unknown Binding

Rocks & Minerals | Nature & Ecology | Science | Subjects | Books

Book Description

Black Wave. The Alpha and Omega of Interactive Gaming. In the near future, in the secretive hyper reality of the on-line world, not playing means not existing. There are a select few who rule over this electronic dominion. And they are under attack. The "Ghost" is unlike anything these players have seen before, unknown and unseen-they do not even know if it is player or program. It has taken the game to the next level. The only thing they know for sure is people are playing. And dying.

Customer Reviews:

Great art with a wretched, incomprehensible story.......2006-10-30

The back cover of Junction 17 announces that it is "A good cross between The Matrix and Dark City." Well, boys and girls, Junction 17 is a wonderful example of why you shouldn't cross The Matrix and Dark City. The art is great, but the story is muddled and strange, and the characters are cardboard cutouts (plus they seem not to know their own names). I'm not really even sure why I bothered to finish it.

Junction 17 is about a virtual reality game called Black Wave. I'm not really sure what kind of game it is (it's never explained), but I think it's some kind of battle game. Anyway, someone (or something) begins killing off players. This person/thing calls itself the "Ghost" (yes, that is really how the author uses the quotation marks) and begins targeting the top players. This synopsis is just what it tells you in the first 5 pages. Make sense? If not, you're sunk. This is the total amount of explanation in the book.

Perhaps you think that I simply skimmed the volume and missed out on the subtleties. Nope. I read the book all the way through, and it still didn't make sense. Let me show you a few of the things that had me confused.

On page 22 (there are no page numbers, so I had to count the pages) there are two girls talking. Actually, they are about to start fighting each other. There is a girl with yellow hair (I'll call her Yellow) and a girl with purple hair (I'll call her Purple). According to the profiles at the beginning of the book, Purple is named Nisa Otaka. However, Yellow calls her Kara. Now, either Yellow is crazy, confused, or for some reason has decided to call Purple by the wrong name. Purple/Nisa responds to the name "Kara" (instead of saying, "Hey, Lady, that's not my name. My name is Nisa."). Then on page 27, the "Ghost" shows up and chops Yellow's head off (in an incredibly graphic matter, I may add). However, Purple calls Yellow "Nisa". Um, wait a minute. You mean the profiles at the beginning of the book gave me the wrong name? No, no, that would be too simple of a mistake. Later in the book, some other kids refer to Purple (who has magically sprouted glasses and a gun) as Nisa. Then Purple/Kara/Nisa says she's Gungirl-One now (I presume that's her name in the game). Say what? Wasn't Yellow Nisa, and didn't she die? Usually when people get their heads chopped off, they die. Obviously, Purple was lending Yellow her name for the beginning part, and then after Yellow died, she took her name back, even though she was using her game character's name so she didn't really need her name back anyway. Well, now that you've explained it that way, it makes PERFECT sense.

There's also the fact that while people are playing the game they can somehow interact with people in the real world. At least, I think they can, because none of the technology in the book is explained. All I know is that people who are in the game are somehow able to talk to people in the outside world (as well as attack them) but then they also seem to be see-through in some frames and solid in others. To make matters even more confusing, sometimes people in the real world can see the players, and sometimes they can't. Hmm, that doesn't make much sense.

There are also the see-through speech bubbles. For some reason, some of the speech bubbles are see-through, which makes them not only really hard to read (there are sometimes black letters on a grayish background) but also really confusing. What are these see-through speech bubbles? Do they signify whispering, or did the artist just feel like making the page layout look different?

According to the back of the manga, this is the Creator's Cut. What does that mean? Could that be why none of the book makes sense? Was there an original release that wasn't the Creator's Cut?

There's also the rating. The manga is rated T (Teen) for ages 13+. While I have absolutely nothing against blood, the story frankly has too much blood in it to be rated T. In the course of the story there are several disturbing images of people who have been shot, strangled, had their heads bashed in, etc.; a guy who randomly explodes in midair (and believe me, it doesn't leave anything to the imagination); a panel showing the after effects of exploding in midair guy; a girl who gets her head chopped off (Let's get as close as possible for the maximum gross out effect!) then stabbed with a sword and stuck in the reader's face; a girl who gets her entire body stretched and pulled apart by a computer virus; and a scene where a girl starts bleeding out of her eye sockets and mouth. In my opinion, the publisher should have upped the rating to T+ or OT (16+ or 17+).

A note to fashion conscious cosplayers: On the back of the cover is a picture of Kim Nihei wearing a stomach-baring long-sleeved shirt (which by itself is very strange), gloves, a ski cap, a pair of blue pants with holes in them (although you can barely call them pants because they have more holes than cloth), and a pink thong. Please do not try this at home, as it may result in ridicule from everyone you have ever known.

The art is amazing, but the story is incomprehensible. So, if you're looking for a good manga (or one that makes even a modicum of sense), please flee screaming in the opposite direction of Junction 17.

ONLINE GAMING AT ITS DEADLIEST!.......2006-04-03

Set in the near future, "Junction 17" concerns a popular new online game called Black Wave where players take on alter egos to battle each other in a stark, virtual reality world. But while it's just an obsessive game for most there is another player who has much darker designs. A character calling himself the "Ghost" is killing players not only in the game but in reality itself, trapping them inside the game so they can't get away. The game's top players including Nisa Otaka, Kim Nehei, Sarah Dawson and buddies John & Wilson all find themselves as targets by the sinister Ghost. Like many online gamers, the players in Black Wave take on the roles of characters that are polar opposites of their own personalities. This futuristic world allows players to have modems implanted into their bodies, allowing them to log-in from anywhere. The ghost has managed to incorporate a virus into the game that he uses to attack other players with and giving his grim reaper-like alter ego great power in the game. These five players, along with Thomas & Bruce, two investigators in the cyber crimes unit, find themselves having to work together to stop the Ghost who can summon up legions of player characters to fight for him as mindless automations.

"Junction 17" blends a cyber punk, Matrix-like plot with a lush, full color Manga look to create an exciting page turner. While the story may not be terribly original, Creator/Artist David Hutchinson puts his own unique spin on the world of popular, online and interactive gaming, possibly foreshadowing a rather dark future for the hobby. His art is first rate and the colors are fantastic and lend a whole new dynamic to the story. Fantastic cover as well! The book also includes a sketch gallery. Solid dark sci-fi Manga!

Reviewed by Tim Janson

Average customer rating:

Beware Beginners

A great introductory plyometric book

Great Start to Plyometrics

A great supplement to power training

Dangerous in principle and in practice

High-Powered Plyometrics
James C. Radcliffe , and Robert C. Farentinos
Manufacturer: Human Kinetics Publishers
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Exercise & Fitness | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
General | Health, Mind & Body | Subjects | Books
Sports Medicine | Specialties | Medicine | Subjects | Books
Bodybuilding & Weight Training | Training | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Training | Sports | Subjects | Books
General | Sports | Subjects | Books
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Jumping into Plyometrics: 100 Exercises For Power & Strength

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High-Performance Sports Conditioning

Accessories:

Tanita BC533 Glass Innerscan Body Composition Monitor

ASIN: 0880117842

Book Description

Take your performance to the next level and beyond! Plyometrics is an essential part of conditioning for all sports requiring strength, power, and speed. High-Powered Plyometrics gives you the advanced exercises and programs used by all top athletes and coaches.

High-Powered Plyometrics is the most advanced, comprehensive guide to explosive power training for athletes, coaches, and conditioning experts. This book covers it all, from the principles of high-intensity plyometric training to the development of long- and short-term training programs for 21 sports. More than 360 photos illustrate 77 exercises to increase upper-, middle-, and lower-body power. Exercise descriptions and intensity guidelines provide step-by-step instructions to ensure correct technique and proper workload.

Go beyond basic conditioning and develop the explosive power that will give you an edge on the competition.

Customer Reviews:

Beware Beginners.......2004-11-16

I purchased this book because I am familiar with plyometrics, having done them years ago in high school athletics. But, I am an adult now, and wanted to reacquaint myself with some plyometric exercises to give me an edge in my running.

I found this book was a bit too inaccessible for me, and ended up returning it. It's very technical and scientific, even to me-- and, I consider myself pretty knowlegeable in terms of exercise, running and fitness.

If you already use plyometrics and are looking for some new ideas, this is probably for you. It relies on several props that may not be avaialble for someone who is a fitness enthusiast, but is not a full time athlete. If you are just taking up an interest in plyometrics, I would not buy this book as my first. (For the novice, I would recommend Chu's "Jumping Into Plyometrics," instead.) The book boasts "77 Advanced Exercises" on the cover, and the key word here is indeed, "advanced."

In short, this book is for professional athletes and coaches, not for someone just getting his/her feet wet in this very beneficial form of training.

A great introductory plyometric book.......2003-11-29

This book is worth the price ($14) alone just for the plyometric routines in the back of the book. The description and science behind plyometrics are excellent and easy to read. My only complaint about the book is that some of the exercises are hard to grasp from the given instructions.

I knew of several lower body plyometric moves, but the amount of upper body ones in the book are impressive. You will need a medicine ball for most of the upper body ones, as well as plyo boxes for some of the lower body ones, but in the book they show you how to make them. This is a definite plus. I also like the suggested readings in the back, which will help if I ever need to go more indepth into a certain aspect of plyometrics.

Overall, this book is worth the money, and will help you in any sport, to become more explosive. Just make sure to study the instructions on the moves carefully, to make sure you are doing them right.

Great Start to Plyometrics.......2002-07-28

High-Powered Plyometrics is an excellent book for those striving to achieve maximum power from their fitness program of choice. This book gives plenty of information about the human physiology, necessary to understand how the body reacts to physical conditioning. It then smoothly incorporates a detailed outline of the how's and why's that make plyometrics work. The authors of the book share their accumulation of research with the reader to grant him the ability of self-evaluation. This book is amazing, it even gives you outlines for building your own jump boxes from scratch, should you be inclined to do so.

You can learn a lot from this book, since there is a wealth of research thrown into this book. Though, I'd also recommend getting Jumping into Plyometrics, by Dr. Donald Chu, in addition to this book. Chu's book, in my opinion, is no better or worse than High-Powered Plyometrics. Both books have their advantages over the other. The main advantages: High-Powered Plyometrics has a lot more routines already outlined for specific sports; Jumping into Plyometrics has outlined routines involving complex training (basically, Plyometrics + Weight Lifting).

Good luck in your quest for power.

A great supplement to power training.......2000-11-01

If you are interested in improving your performance in almost any sport, plyometrics is sure to help you. This book is a gold mine of specific information and training programs that will supercharge your workouts.

Dangerous in principle and in practice.......2000-02-15

A mediocre book on a form of exercise that is unproductive and dangerous. The book is hardly comprehensive and some of the routines and ideas are downright untrue. Give this book (and plyometrics) a miss.

Average customer rating:

High-powered Plyometrics
James Radcliffe
Manufacturer: HUMAN KINETICS TRADE
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: B000GM1SIA

Average customer rating:

Delicious!

Yucky

Create a Gourmet Meal in Minutes

EXCELLENT RECIPES MADE WITH SIMPLICITY

Pressure Cooking the Easy Way: Healthy One-Pot Meals Everyone Will Love
Maureen B. Keane , and Daniella Chace
Manufacturer: Three Rivers Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

General | Baking | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
General | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
Special Appliances | Cooking, Food & Wine | Subjects | Books
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The Pressured Cook: Over 75 One-Pot Meals In Minutes, Made In Today's 100% Safe Pressure Cookers

ASIN: 0761512853
Release Date: 1997-12-10

Book Description

Cook without fat or oil!
Under pressure to prepare quick, healthy meals? Use a pressure cooker!
Imagine a tender roasted chicken in ten minutes, or perfect vegetables in just two or three! This book is a delicious collection of down-home American fare like stews, soups, roasts, and other main dishes, all cooked to perfection in a matter of minutes with the use of a handy pressure cooker! Maureen Keane and Daniella Chace have put their proven cooking talents to use to create hearty new dishes, as well as to convert old favorites to pressure cooker formulas.
Inside you'll find:
·Great recipes for vegetables, meat, seafood, and poultry
·Quick-fix dinners for one
·Easy feasts for a group
·Recipes for hearty main courses, yummy desserts, baby food, and more!
·Pressure cooking do's and don'ts
·What to look for when purchasing a new pressure cooker
·How the pressure cooker can make your meals more nutritious

Customer Reviews:

Delicious!.......2006-03-02

I tried the "Refried Beans" (page 134). In total, it took about an hour of a half, including the quick-soaking procedure described in the book and the mashing at the end. (Most of the time is spent waiting, so it was easy.) I honestly have never had such tasty refried beans! I was really surprised.

Yucky.......2003-08-07

I am not experienced with pressure cookers, so you may chose to ignore my review. These recipes were complicated, and not at all easy to put together. They largely came out bland as well. Maybe I am just a bad cook.

Create a Gourmet Meal in Minutes.......2000-05-03

The complete book on pressure cooking. Create gourmet meals using recipes from this book such as: BBQ Steak w/Maple Sweet Potatoes, Fish & Eggplant Curry, Seafood & Safron Soup, Boston Brown Bread.

Included are sections on Do's & Don'ts of pressure cooking, common problems, troubleshooting and maintenance of your pressure cooker.

EXCELLENT RECIPES MADE WITH SIMPLICITY.......1999-04-24

Of all the books I looked at, this one fit my needs best. As a student and a cooking novice, it gives me good tips on pressure cooking in general, has many recipes for all kinds of food styles (e.g. meats, fresh veggies, legumes, grains, fruits, seafood, etc.), and seeks to fill the recipes with healthy, low-fat ingredients. There's even a section "Cooking for One." For rookie pressure cookers like me, and even for the cooking veteran, THIS BOOK IS A MUST!

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