Saturday, September 14, 2013

Fishbowl #3: Chapters 14, 15, and 16 of The Kite Runner

Welcome to your third fishbowl!

A few reminders if you're looking for an A for the day:

(A) Bring at least one quotation and/or page reference into at least one of your responses.
 
(B) Explain your thinking thoughtfully and thoroughly (try to avoid the one-sentence response).

(C) Keep it professional, including the usage of proper grammar and spelling.

(D) Comment frequently from the beginning of the conversation to the end.


Remember also that you're welcome to get into a hotseat in the inner circle for a little while and earn some of your daily participation points there.


Enjoy!

93 comments:

  1. What is the significance of violence and oppression and how does it affect the book?

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    1. I think it sets the mood and may foreshadow what is coming next in the story.

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    2. The violence and oppression in the book gives the book a saddening feeling to the story. Also this gives the book a good backround story so every now and then the characters can refer back to the war.

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    3. Very good Question. I think that the violence in this book is used by Hosseini as a theme in the book. The use of violence and "hard times" in literature brings a sense of reality into the story. Hosseini uses violence much more heavily in this book though, and in ways that stick with the reader. The sexual violence brings a sort of seriousness into the book, showing that Amir's childhood was not some sort of nostalgic story of the past, but a truly painful experience, that showed the roots of guilt in Amir.

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  2. What problems do you think could arise in the future for the newly wed couple? How do you think the wedding traditions differ from ones of America today?

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    1. Someday Soraya will have to find out about the day in the alley and she might think that Amir is not as good of a person as he seems to be.

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  3. Why is Amir so quick to fly to Pakistan? It can't just be for Rahim Kahn?

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    1. I think that it is only for Rahim Kahn because he means a lot to him and he wants to say good bye because he knows that he might lose him just like he lost his dad.

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    2. Amir I feel went to Pakistan so quickly because he did want to see Rahim, but he feels he could possibly get to see Hassan again, or at least hear about him. When Amir had the dream about Hassan at the end of chapter 14, it seems that it makes him want to go back to Pakistan. He remembers Hassan saying, "For you, a thousand times over!" I believe he wants to finally payback Hassan for everything Hassan has done for him.

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    3. Amir is slowly losing all the people from his past and he wants to cling to it. With the recent death of Baba, Amir is desperate for guidance. His flying to Pakistan is also because of Rahim telling Amir that there is a way to be good again, on page 192.

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    4. Amir went to Pakistan so quickly because Rahim Kahn was one of Amir's first adult friend and he feels like he needs to take care of him to show that their friendship wasn't for nothing.

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  4. If Soraya can't have babies, why was Amir leaning over a cradle? On page 190, or the first page of chapter 14.

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    2. I think they are talking about the cradle that the phone sits in.

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  5. On Page.187 Amir and Soraya are thinking about adoption. Do you think that the kids will be loved as much as they would be if they we not adopted?

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    1. I think the kids will still be loved just not the same love because the baby does not come from them. But that is the only option at this point.

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    2. I think they will but I dont know if he will be a good father because of the previous relationship between Amir and Baba.

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    3. I think the child would be treated the same way. It would be there child and they would want to take care of them.

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    4. I think that the adopted kids won't have the same amount of love from the parents, because the parents know that the child is not theirs and that no part of them was put into this human being. I think the children will be loved the same amount, just not loved in the same way.

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  6. On page 190-191 Amir gets off the phone with Rahim Khan and is devastated to know that he is very ill. How will this affect him? What might it do to him and Soraya's relationship?

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    1. Amir is going through a very hard time in his life where everyone he loves is just dieing all around him. He really doesn't want to go through another funeral and another depression. His relationship with Soraya will wither even more because death really takes a toll on a relationship.

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    2. I think that this will definitely effect Amir and Soraya's relationship because as a child Amir saw Rahim Kahn as a father figure more than Baba and to know that he is sick and dying. I think he might distance himself from Soraya as he started to distance himself from Hassan.

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    3. Well Amir did lose his father so its reasonable that he is devastated that the man who acted as a father when he was a child was sick.

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  7. Why is Hassan so willing to talk to Amir after all the betrayal?

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    1. I think Hassan forgave him over the years because their friendship is too strong. I can relate this to my best friend. If we get in a fight, it is back to normal the next day.

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    2. I think that Hassan looked over the betrayal and tries to see the good in everyone no matter how much bad they have. I think he is more thankful than betrayed for what Amir has done for him.

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    4. I think he is so willing to talk to him again because he sees something greater in Amir then the reader sees or other people in the story. It could be because he feels bad for Amir because he lost Baba

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    5. Hassan is probably able to look over the betrayal and forgive him because in Hassan faith it talks about forgiveness and is also probably able to over look it because he know that Amir did not know what to do and how to continue being friends after what happened and might be able to understand because if he was put in that position he would probably do the exact same thing Amir did.

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  8. well in chapter 16 he tells amir that one of hassans children died in child birth. so would that change anything?

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    1. I think that it gives Amir some kind of relief, that he is not the only one having baby troubles. Also they have such a deep connection and the fact they both have are their pains with parenthood.

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  9. Do we know why Hassan's mom came back? or why on page 210 was she saying I wouldn't even hold you?

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    1. I think that she came back, because she's living through these hard times in Afghanistan, and is finally realizing that the most important thing is family.

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    2. i think that she was desperate and dying. she just needed some place to stay and i think she felt the same way as amir because she left him as a child. that was probably her guilt that she needed to confront. maybe this is foreshadowing about what is going to happen in the future.

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    3. Hassan's mother left Hassan when he was really young. Back at the beginning of the book it said his mother wouldn't hold him because of his lip. I think she came back because she was in a very bad condition and needed help. On page 209 it says "She was swaying on her feet, like she was too weak to even stand." Hassan's mother needed a place to go she probably had no one else to turn to. Also she probably felt guilty for leaving. When she returns she helps with taking care of Hassan's son and spends a lot of time with him. It seems like she is trying to get rid of the guilt that has built up inside of her.

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  10. How will the concept of adoption or "Unexplained Fertility" (page 185) effect Amir's life with Soraya?

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    1. I think it will put a strain on their relationship, and I also think that it will separate them from Americans, like Soraya's dad was talking about on page 188, most Afghans don't adopt.

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    2. It will effect their life by them like not being able to live the life they want to live and they never really dated so that makes this a bit harder because they do not really have a lot of common ground. So I think it will take a big toll on their relationship.

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    3. I disagree with Maggie. I think it will provide an element of family for Amir that he has been searching for his entire life. It will put him in the perspective of Baba and he will become much wiser. I think that having a child, regardless of the means, as well as a functioning family, will prove beneficial to Amir.

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    4. I think they might become closer because they will have to go through a different process to have a child. They wont take things for granted and they wont take each other for granted.

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  11. Amir seems to be past the jealousy towards Hassan. "Then late that fall...never hear it." Page 209 Hassan's stillborn baby also took the jealousy from Amir as well.

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  12. I do think that Amir is jealous of Hassan for him being able to have a child I think that childhood jealousy that Amir was jealous of Hassan for Baba's attention this is the same thing. Amir and Soraya cant have a child but Hassan is "better" than Amir and is able to have a child.

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  13. Why do you think Hassan is still so loyal to Amir, after all Amir has done to him? On page 208, Hassan hurries and tries to get the house ready for Amir, why do you think that is?

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    1. Hassan still has a lot of trust and respect for Amir even if Amir did nothing to stop what happened in the alley. Before Hassan ran the blue kite for Amir he said "For you a thousand times over" so Hassan is very close to Amir and loves him as if he was a brother to him.

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    2. I think he has always felt that he needs to cater to Amir and I think he still feels this way. He may also be trying to prove a point to Amir like you should have respect for me for I have always respected you.

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    3. Hassan is still so loyal to Amir, probably because of their past. Of how Hassan was always loyal to him as kids. It reminded Hassan that Amir was his "master". Hassan then goes to the house to make it ready for Amir because he wants to feel that he will believe that Hassan is doing well. That he has a nice house like Amir used to have.

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    4. Hassan has extreme loyalty towards Amir and always has, I believe it's just the respect that he has for Amir that Amir doesn't realize.

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  14. I do think Amir is jealous of Hassan for being able to have a child because Amir and his wife have been wanting kids for a long time and they are not able. I also think is also jealous because When they were kids Hassan was teased and not like not like living as great of life as Amir did and now the roles are flipped and he is like jealous because you could tell Amir help himself up higher then Hassan thought he was better then him.

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  15. Overall I think Amir feels sad about not being able to have kids, but I don't think Hassan being able to have kids will make his jelous of Hassan because there are lots of people in the world who can have kids not just Hassan. Chapter 16

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  16. Amir isn't necessarily jealous, but he is very surprised to see how Hassan's life turned out to be. He had a baby, Amir didn't and Hassan was very happy. Amir is more motivated to have a life like Hassan.

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  17. Amir probably was at least a little jealous since Soraya can't have a baby. However, maybe Amir was actually happy for his childhood friend, even if he can't have that life. Also, Amir and Soraya are happy together, so really Amir could've been quite happy for Hassan. After all Hassan deserves a better adulthood than a childhood.

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  18. On page 213- What do you think will happen if the Taliban find Hassan and his family in Baba's house? Also, what do you think Amir would do?

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  19. Now that Amir is growing up, all the events of his childhood seem to be falling into place, For example he is now understanding why his father isolated himself from him during his childhood. He is now also realizing why his father also treated Hassan with such love as well, on page (222) he realizes that he and Amir are actually step-brothers.

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  20. After Hassan's wife had a miss carriage, I think Amir was feeling down because he was disappointed for Hassan but also happy because Hassan might've not been able to have a child just like him and Soraya.

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  21. Why doesn't Hassan seem very excited about the war being over? like after Rahim Khan told Hassan all he asked was if he could get Rahim anything before bed? Did he have a assumption about what was going to happen to the Hazara's?

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  22. I do not believe that Amir is extremely jealous of Hassan's having a child due to the fact that on page 188, Amir stated that no one wanted to even adopt. On the same page, Amir even said " Maybe this was my punishment, and perhaps justly so. It wasn't meant to be, Khala Jamilia had said. Or, maybe, it was meant not to be."

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  23. How will Hassan and Amir communicate when they are reunited again?

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    1. It will probably be a little awkward at first but, then they will become more comfortable with each other the more they talk.

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  24. In my opinion, Amir is jealous of Hassan when he found out that Hassan has a kid. However, I think he deserves this, and I think this is karma's way of getting back at Amir for the things he did to Hassan, by not giving Amir a child and giving the child that Hassan deserves. Furthermore, this child represents something more, as shown on pg. 189 when Amir thinks, "I'd feel it rising from Soraya and settling between us. Sleeping between us. Like a newborn child." This is karma's way of getting back at Amir, and rewarding Hassan, the inability to not have a child represents happiness and so much more as well.

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  25. How would Rahim Kahn know about Assef? On page 192 Rahim Kahan said " Come. There is a way to be good again". Through out the book Rahim has been a very observant person, so I think he may have asked Hassan what was up when he and Amir stopped talking.

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    1. I agree. I thought that same question while reading and I think Hassan told Rahim Kahn because Rahim Kahn and Hassan have gotten close because they moved in together.

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  26. How will kite running being banned affect the city? How does Amir and Hassan feel about that?

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    1. That was a childhood tradition and now that, that is gone it will impact their adulthood because they won't ever be able to relive those happy moments again.

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    2. Imagine what it would be like if football was banned from America. There would be havok. So everyone in the city is probably extremely upset. And Amir and Hassan will probably be upset, but not that much because there is a lot going on in their lives.

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    3. Kite running being banned is just another representation of a restriction of the Afghani people's freedom. It is a way for the Taliban to remind them that they are in control.

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    4. I think that the end of kite running kind of symbolizes the end of the Afghan tradition, and the start of a new country with new traditions. Hassan and Amir probably feel sad, but at the same time glad because the kites remind them of the horrible thing that happened after the kite running.

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  27. Do you think that Hassan told Rahim Kahn about everything that happened with Amir and him?

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    1. Yes, based on his words on the phone about being good again. Rahim would not have said that if he did not know about the things Amir did.

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  28. I believe Amir is a little jealous because he may still have some tension from their childhood and Amir has not been as much successful as Hassan because Amir has guilt and wants to be sorry but cant.

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    1. I agree, Hassan has always had everything that Amir has wanted, and now Hassan has a child and Amir can't have one.

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  29. How do you think Amir feels now that he knows that Hassan wanted to contact him?

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    1. I think that Amir is kind of satisfied with the fact that he has been thinking about him and he still wants to be in his life.

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    2. I think Amir is surprised that Hassan still wanted to get in contact with him.

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    3. I think Amir will feel a great amount of guilt

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    4. Amir is probably surprised by his remaining loyalty and scared because he does not know what he would have said.

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    5. I feel like Amir almost has relief because Amir has had this guilt his whole life but Hassan wanted to contact him, he felt like seven pounds got lifted from his chest.

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  30. I think that Rahim Kahn knew something is wrong a long time ago when he saw that Amir was distancing himself from Hassan and Ali just leaving Baba even after all that they had done really meant something was wrong between Amir and Hassan. Then when Hassan moved in he might have told Rahim what happend that day in the alley.

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  31. Hassan probably told Rahim Khan, or maybe Baba told him about how Ali and Hassan left because that's pretty much one of the very few limits that would have led to Rahim Khan knowing about Amir and Hassan. Also, maybe Ali did not want Hassan to talk to Amir, so that's why they just stayed out of touch completely. Finally, what if Hassan and Amir did stay in touch, how would things be different? Would they have survived the war together? Would they still have married their current wives?

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  32. "He sat across from us, tapped his desk with his fingers, and said the word "adoption" for the first time. Soraya cried all the way home." (page 187) Is this harder for Soraya or Amir? It is a cultural thing or Amir to not adopt a child but that is the only way for them to have a child together.

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    1. it is cultural because on page 188 the general says it is not the afghan way.

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  33. On Pg 213 "A few weeks later, the Taliban banned kite fighting. Why do you think the Taliban bans kite fighting? Do they see it as a right and if they take in away the people will have less power because your taking their right of kite fighting away.

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    1. By taking away the citizens right of kite flying, I believe that the Taliban is trying to make the people fear their authority, knowing that they [The Taliban] can do anything that they want.

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  34. I think what Hassan means when he says "god help the Hazzarras now" I know that during history when the Taliban took over it was a more modern day holocaust and all the Hazarras where ordered to be killed. So That quote would make sense with the quote.

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  35. On pg 192 Rahim Khan said "Come. There is a way to be good again." Amir was thinking how could Rahim knew about his childhood and the tension between Amir and Hassan and how could Amir be good and successful.

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  36. How do you think Amir feels about being back in his homeland?

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  37. Rahim Khan knows what happened between Amir and Hassan because as it states on pg. 198 when Amir thinks, " Rahim Khan had always been one of the most instinctive people I'd ever met." Furthermore, with Hassan and Rahim Khan living together, I would assume they got really close. Therefore when the subject of Amir came up, I'm sure Rahim figured it out and eventually pried the information out of Hassan.

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  38. On page 213 the statement that Hassan prayed out was probably caused by what Hassan knew about the goals of the Taliban because on the same page, it says in 1988 they massacred the Hazaras in Mazar-i-Sharif.

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  39. On page 213 when Hassan said God please help the Hazaras, Hassan says this because he believes with is heart that there is a god, when you believe something is true you put all you passion in it.

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  40. I would agree with what Lizzie said about how Amir is losing his childhood and now that Rahim is dying it feels like the last good part of his childhood is dying.

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  41. When Rahim Kahn died, Amir's childhood is all over and because Rahim Kahn was a father figure to Amir. So know Amir will have to move on with his life without any help.

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  42. How is Amir not depressed? He has been through a lot, having no mother, his father's death, betraying his friend after an awful event, and now not being able to have a child. I would be incredibly sad if I were him.

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  43. On page 213, It says Hassan prayed. I believe this is because he knew that the Taliban were going to do bad things, so he prayed.

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  44. There are some similarities between Amir and his father and Soraya and her father. On page 181 Soraya's father believes she is wasting her time and talents in trying become a teacher, just like how Amirs father dissaproved of of him becoming a writer. On page 181 the General says "An intelligent girl like you could become a Political Scientist, or a lawyer. I don't know why you are wasting your talents like this." Do you believe that their understanding of one another from that aspect helps their relationship prosper?

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