Michal Czapla Public Feed

Michal Czapla Capstone

Posted by Michal Czapla in CTE Senior Capstone · Kamal/Ugworji · Wed on

I always wanted to make my Capstone involved in something that brought me joy whilst still having the aspect of challenging my engineering skills. Prior to this school year, I wanted to physically build my own pool table in order to give regular consumers a cheaper option and make the game easier to get into. Given the restrictions of online school, I wasn’t sure how I would bring my idea to life until my CTE-Engineering class began to practice and delve deeper into a CAD software called Fusion 360, where I realized I could digitally plan and design the table at home. Designing a cheap DIY build involved looking at online examples people have made in the past, finding which materials are necessary and which can be cut out, and researching the universal measurements used in pool tables (height, pool ball dimensions, pocket sizes, etc.) in order to make this project a legitimate table one could practice with and use. I had to go through a few iterations with the design before I achieved the right balance between cost-effectiveness and stiffness, which was accomplished after I conducted a static stress simulation on Fusion 360. This capstone was wrapped up and put together in an interactive website where one could easily read and follow how to make the design. Along the way, I learned that pool tables are not just desks with holes; their prices depend on the quality of parts used, their level of craftsmanship, and many structural intricacies.

Website: https://shark-chimes-4kn6.squarespace.com/

CAD: https://myhub.autodesk360.com/ue2ccdb80/g/shares/SH56a43QTfd62c1cd968f83d2024e3c0f01f

The final CAD design of the pool table.
The final CAD design of the pool table.
Screenshot of my analysis of the stress test (located in website).
Screenshot of my analysis of the stress test (located in website).
Excerpt of guide section (located in website).
Excerpt of guide section (located in website).

Annotated Bibliography: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1GyZqh7YynaL_75F0jTGIbS6e9amO3UmrxOyzkA8x1yY/edit

Struggle & Symbols of Power- LOTF Essay

Posted by Michal Czapla in English 2 · Pahomov/Rhymer · E Band on

Michal Czapla

Ms. Pahomov

English 2

25 March 2019

Struggle And Symbols Of Power

How is a leader chosen? In most scenarios, people in a society analyze their potential candidates based off of their credibility and vote for who will actually make a difference. However, when people are in desperate times, their way of deciding who is in charge is less logical and more based off of characteristics they think resemble success. In the novel Lord of the Flies, William Golding tells the story of a group of boys who are stranded on a deserted island. They need to build their own civilization, and successfully do so, but ultimately destroy that same functioning society. During this time, the boys were in need of an “adult figure” to look up to for leadership, and placed power in the hands of those who represented authority. This demonstrates that when people find themselves in times of struggle, they follow people with symbolic power rather than logic and reasoning.

In the beginning of the novel, a boy named Ralph blows a conch in order to signal for anyone else on the island to meet up. When the rest of the boys eventually meet up, they decide that an election of a leader is needed to better themselves in this desperate survival situation. The boys gather around in a circle, where they consider their options and notice, “But there was a stillness about Ralph as he sat that marked him out: there was his size, and attractive appearance; and most obscurely, yet most powerfully, there was the conch” (Golding 22). The fact that they are viewing aspects of Ralph, such as his “size, and attractive appearance”, as a way of deciding that he should be their chief shows that they associate those things with leadership. They also believe that since Ralph is the one that holds the conch, an item that is regarded as a symbol of power throughout the book, he is the one whose voice should be listened to. Those are symbols of leadership to the boys, which give them hope and lead them to believe that Ralph will, therefore, get them out of this struggle of surviving on the island. They are not taking credentials into account, such as Jack being in charge of the choir, which is told later in the scene. One may infer that this could be due immaturity, but their ability to carry out an actual election and organize a meeting challenges that, so the boys are capable of using logic. However, since logic is no longer a factor anymore, their view of leadership and struggle thus go hand in hand.

Former President Barack Obama’s 2008 election was successful for a couple of reasons. Voters and citizens generally found themselves in distress after the Bush administration and were in need of someone to look up to who could give them hope. Obama’s election was largely powered by the symbols evident throughout his 2007 campaign. One of those symbols was his tone and speech-making, which is described by Matt Taibbi when he stated on Alternet.org ,"I've been on the fence about Obama for more than two years now, ever since his breakout performance at the Democratic convention in '04. When I saw that speech -- an iconic piece of inspired nonsense/political showmanship, one that set flashbulbs popping like Michael Jordan's virtuoso 1988 dunk contest performance -- I knew right away that he would be the Democratic presidential nominee someday, perhaps even in the next election cycle.” Matt Taibbi is showing the idea of symbolism swaying his decision. He first states how he was “on the fence” about Obama, meaning he wasn’t sure if he was a sound candidate credentially. However, his mind changed about him when he saw his speech, which caught his attention. The flashy nature of the speech described by Taibbi that “set flashbulbs popping like Michael Jordan's virtuoso 1988 dunk contest performance” acted as a symbol that he would bring fresh and new ideas, which made him come to the conclusion that he would become America’s new leader. This links back to the election of Ralph because this power of symbolism is crucial when swaying the people, or voters, one way or the other. He never talks about the actual points that Obama promised to make or how possible his ideas are because he’s drawn towards him based off of his symbolic power only.

Even after an election occurs, people refuse to then analyze the leader using logic and continue to look up to the symbols. Later in the story, the boys on the island have gotten past the election, having already selected Ralph as leader, and are all attempting to fit into their new environment. The littluns, or younger boys, struggle in this new place as they suffer untold terrors from the dark and cry for their mothers. In the book Golding writes, “They obeyed the summons of the conch, partly because Ralph blew it, and he was big enough to be a link with the adult world of authority; and partly because they enjoyed the entertainment of the assemblies” (59). After continuously struggling with things like nightmares and loss of their family, the boys need a person to look up to and trust. They continue to obey their elected leader Ralph because of the symbolic power they see in him. The conch is still being used as a key symbol of power that the boys are drawn towards. Also, Ralph’s large appearance and beauty previously described in the book comes into play here as the boys find that as a symbol or “link with the adult world of authority”, making him the best person to follow. Since Ralph is big and resembles an adult, the boys use that as a symbol and believe that he is able to create the same effect that an adult would in terms of comforting them from their terrors and such.

This connects back to Obama’s campaign since people continued to recognize his symbolic power as a reason to support him even after he was elected as leader, just like Ralph. On the day of his presidency announced, American voters were head over heels as they talked about what this meant for America’s future. Brian Braddy from Chicago told CNN reporters, "I believe in [Obama] because he's younger, so he sees things differently, I hope" (Quijano). This idea of Obama bringing in fresh ideas because of his youthfulness continued to be a reason for voters to come to the conclusion that he will make new changes to the country. In comparison to the Lord of the Flies, Ralph’s physical appearance and the conch persisted as symbols of maturity and power, which were reasons for the boys to believe he would lead them out of their struggle by being a comforting adult figure. Brian Braddy, in particular, highlights the connection between Obama being “younger” and “seeing things differently” compared to George Bush during his presidency. He even adds the “I hope” at the end of his sentence, which further provides evidence that there is no actual logic behind the choice but rather that they’re hoping that this symbol associated with Obama will actually solve the country’s issues.

In conclusion, desperate times can cause people to feel lost and distraught, and their judgment in choosing a leader is altered from logic and reasoning to using symbols they find in people. Ralph’s leadership in Lord of the Flies was successful for as long as it lasted largely in part of the symbolism of power from his size, attractive appearance, and possession of the conch. This is similar to the success of Barack Obama’s 2007 campaign and 2008 election as American voters saw his speechmaking and young appearance as symbols of power as well, which also drew them closer to him. In both instances, the followers thought that the symbolic power of these people were good enough to help them out of the turmoil that they found themselves in. However, this type of decision-making can be detrimental as people who aren’t qualified to be leaders can be chosen and hurt society.

Works Cited

Golding, William. Lord of the Flies. Penguin Books, 2006.

Taibbi, Matt. “Obama Is the Best BS Artist Since Bill Clinton.” Alternet.org, Rolling Stone, 24 July 2012,

www.alternet.org/2007/02/obama_is_the_best_bs_artist_since_bill_clinton/.

Quijano, Elaine, et al. “Obama Win Sparks Celebrations Outside White House.” CNN, Cable News Network, 0 Nov. 2008, 8:48 a.m.,

www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/11/05/us.reaction/.

Barbershop Bust- Michal's Monologue

Posted by Michal Czapla in English 2 · Pahomov/Rhymer · E Band on
...Yeah, just like I said. Cut it short on the sides and shape it up. Oh, and don’t mess up my golden locks. These are magnets for girls. In fact, I’ve been talking to someone lately, and things between us have been going pretty well to say the least. (Laughter) You know what I’m talking about? So, I’m gonna need you to make it look crisp. No, I’m not going on any dates yet, but this cut might just help get me one. What’s that? I got a haircut last week? I don’t really keep track. All I know is that it has to look perfect at all times. How else do you think girls talk to me? Listen, I can’t let people see me and go “that’s an ugly person”. Whatever people think of me is what matters. Oh, by the way, can you give me a line on the side? I think that’ll give my hair a nice touch.

(Swipes hair to the sides)


Hey…can you stop for a minute? What’s that on my head? The line is going further back than usual. I haven’t put my hair up in a while, but it’s never looked like this befo- wait. There’s no way. Am I balding? I never thought that this would happen to me! I mean, my dad is bald, but he’s like a grandpa! I can’t let anyone see this. What will Rebecca think? I’ve been flirting with her for a while, and she’s always complimented me on my hair. She likes how it’s soft and shiny and smooth and… everything! What will she think of me now, knowing that it’s all fading away. She’ll slowly start ignoring me: she won’t say “Hi” to me in the morning, she won’t talk to me during our lunch break, and eventually she’ll forget I even exist! In fact, no one will talk to me anymore because of how unattractive my hair makes me look. I won’t be invited to any of my friends’ parties. I’ll no longer be “cool” anymore. I’m just going to look like a goober. I’ll be an outcast of society for crying out loud! You have to fix it. Fix it right now!


What do you mean you can’t? I don’t care if it’s a “natural process” that men go through. It doesn’t make sense for me to bald. I won’t fit in with my friends. Who else have you seen that’s balding as a 16 year old? Oh, you didn’t know I was 16? Exactly. I’m just going to be a fish out of water in school. You know what? Just finish the haircut. I might as well get my money’s worth.


(As barber finishes up, man stares at mirror)


I can’t believe this is happening to me. Why me? Why ME?


“A rich heart may be under a poor coat”... what do you mean by that? It’s a scottish proverb? Okay, but that has nothing to do with my hair. (Laughs to self) Are you saying that my appearance is the coat? I don’t think I have a rich heart. I’m just another nobody. Who would want associate with me for any reason other than my hair. Well, like I said: it’s smooth and soft and...


...You know, come to think of it, is my hair really that important? I don’t think Rebecca started talking to me because of my hair. Sure, maybe it helped with the looks, but now she talks to me because of what’s on the inside. Hair is only an aesthetic. Really, it’s just some fluff on the top of my head. And my hair isn’t what makes me likeable or have a bunch of friends. I’m the reason. Everything I do and say is what makes me likeable. If I display self-confidence in myself, no one will even think twice about what’s on top of my head. Sure, people will obviously joke about it at times, but don’t we all have our own imperfections?


(Stands up)


Thank you for this amazing experience. I really found myself today. The hair doesn’t even look half bad now that I look at it. In fact, I’m gonna give you a tip. Have a nice day!


Magnificent.Incredible.Cool.Happy.Awesome.Lovable

Posted by Michal Czapla in CTE ILP 10th Grade · Kamal/Shagin/Ugworji · Wed on
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Magnificent.Incredible.Cool.Happy.Awesome.Lovable


Michal Czapla


Over the course of these past 15 years of my life, things have gone pretty well. However, in order for everything to continue being well, you have to have some strengths. Everyone is great in some aspect of life, whether it be public speaking or being great with numbers. I myself have strengths as well that allow me to be good in certain areas. In fact, I’m here to discuss three core strengths of mine!


WHAT'S WRONG WITH BEING CONFIDENT?


Just like what Demi Lovato suggests, I don’t see anything wrong with expressing my thought and ideas loud and proud. To be confident in myself means to not care about how others view me based off of my actions in life. It’s one thing to tell yourself that you are a confident individual, but it’s another to prove it by contributing to discussions and Whenever I have an answer to tell in class, no matter if it’s right or wrong, I say it loud and proud. This leads to me either looking bad or great, but I know that I’ll learn something either way. Also, in conversations with people, I don’t do well with small talk, but after I get to know a person I act as myself because I’m comfortable with being myself.


SMILE


Lil’ Duval and I share one thing in common: always having a smile on our face. Most people would see this as an emotion, but to be able to go out into the real world everyday facing constant challenges and tons of work, it can be hard to stay happy. In other words, I am always positive. When you have a positive outlook on life like me, you’re able to not only find the good bits in the hard times to pull through, but also giving out good vibes to the people around you. I can’t tell you how many days I want to just curl into a ball and mope in my seat. I always tell myself, though, that people are going through their own drama in life, so I make it a goal to spread some positivity that’s needed in the room.


WORK, WORK, WORK


Finally, I sit here reminiscing Rihanna’s lyrics: “Work, work, work, work, work, work…”. That ties in to my final strength: diligence. I constantly push myself to keep improving and sharpening skills because I know that if I strive for something, I will be rewarded. If I see that my Algebra grade isn’t doing well and I have Standards coming up, I’m going to make sure that I get a perfect score on those standards. There is no possibility of me failing, because I know that if I keep working on my math skills and practice, I should get rewarded by being prepared and acing the quiz. The point is, whenever I set a goal for myself and I want myself to get it done, I will make sure it does not fall through.





APPLICATION TO CTE ENGINEERING


So, I’ve talked about my strengths and how they help me in my day-to-day life, but how do I incorporate it into my CTE life at Science Leadership Academy?


For starters, having confidence is a good attribute to have when working with a group to solve problems on a design element of a machine or circuit. In this case, I can display confidence by expressing my ideas and opinions on how we can do things in order to make something work without being embarrassed. If I didn’t have confidence, my group could possibly miss out on an idea that could actually benefit our cause. Even in my ILP, if I display confidence in meetings or presentations, my mentor(s) will definitely take me seriously. If they see that I am passionate about my ideas and say them loud and proud, they’ll also start to think “Wow. This guys must know what he’s talking about!”


By exerting positivity, I can make sure that even in a high-pressure situation, I can always make sure that my friends or colleagues are still having fun. The worst thing you could do in CTE Engineering is hate it because it takes up so much of a student’s schedule. People sometimes need a bit of motivation to do equations with Ohm’s Law, so my smile and jokes are always there for people. If my ILP mentor sees that I am not slouching or moping, wishing that I was somewhere other than JMT, they will definitely appreciate that and take a mental note of it.


Diligence is possibly the most important in this case. If I want to keep up with all of my grades without a lunch period to work on homework, I’m going to need an extra drive in me to learn Engineering. Since there is a lot of brain power needed to understand a lot of concepts in Engineering, my hard-working spirit allows me to not give up if I don’t understand what a resistor is or what current means. I simply make it a goal to work on those topics more so eventually I do get it. This ties into ILPs because my determination to finish a project will show when I present at JMT. Being a diligent worker there will improve their overall view of me. They could even see me as a potential candidate for a job there, later in life, after I graduate college.

THANKS FOR VIEWING!


POL-ish

Posted by Michal Czapla in English 2 · Pahomov/Rhymer · E Band on

Michal Czapla

9/21/18

E-Band

POL-ish

“What’s that weird food?”

I mindlessly closed my SpiderMan lunch bag. It was a new week of Kindergarten, and I thought that I would bring one of my favorite meals for lunch that day. Polish potato dumplings, or “pierogi”, were quite literally heaven in my mouth. The soft, doughy shell enveloping a pile of toasty mashed potatoes danced on my tastebuds. I always ate it at home, as my family would always make them every now and then. It was normal to eat them. So, when a kid named Brendan pointed them out, goosebumps tingled down my skin. My mind felt hollow. All those years of chowing doing on my beloved pierogi were now shameful memories.

“I don’t know,” I replied,”My mom put it in my bag.”

I felt the sweat oozing out of my pores. Brendan, however, simply spinned around and waddled along his way.

It seemed that I always had trouble with being open about my Polish heritage. I felt like an alien around all these Americans discussing about things I didn’t grow up with. While they were talking about ‘Tom & Jerry’, all I could think of is ‘Bolek & Lolek’, a Polish show about two brothers fighting with one another and getting into trouble. Playing football was news to me, since Poland’s main sport was soccer. I practically had a ball by my feet at all times, which most didn’t understand why. No matter what, I could never fit in. So naturally, my solution to that was acting. If they saw me as on of them, they wouldn’t judge me.  

One day, everyone in my class was hyped up. The wooden desks were shoved to the corners of the room, and the big red beat box was brought out. As soon as “Teach Me How To Dougie” came on, the class went nuts. It was a flood of 6 year olds shuffling their light up sketchers all over the dusty plank floor. My mind spiraled out of control. My heart pounded from under my chest as though it would burst after every beat.

What on earth was going on?

I was so used to hearing Polish Disco: a lot of bass drops and catchy choruses. My type of dance was hopping up and down, or taking a pretty girl and twirling her around. This was nothing I had ever experienced before. Lifting up my feet felt like a dumbbell was pulling it to the ground. My legs tangled and intertwined as I tried shuffling my shoes, which turned out to look like me trying to kick the ground. My limbs were just flailing in every direction. It was almost as though I was in a different body.

The funny thing is, I probably received more weird looks trying to do the shuffle rather than suggesting my own music. I continued not to realize that, though, and I kept on shuffling. It wasn’t until one day, while we were in a reading circle, that everything changed. I had a select group of friends in my class, so anyone else who wasn’t part of it was just a stranger to me. That included the girl seated next to me. Our teacher, Ms. Gudis, assigned us as reading buddies. Naturally, as we sat down and started reading a picture book, I asked a bit about her.

“So, what’s your name?” I questioned.

“Karolina.”

My eyes widened, jaw cracked open. That sounded just like a Polish name. I had to be sure, though, so I pressed on.

“Where are you from, Karolina?”

“Oh well I was born in Philadelphia…”

Why would I get my hopes up?

“...but my family come from Poland.”

I nearly let out a screech. My slouched posture on the pillow underneath me had now turned into straight one. At that moment, I did the unthinkable: I told her about my Polish heritage. For the entire class period, we shared countless stories about how we struggled to fit into the crowd. We discussed things such as not celebrating April Fools Day, but rather Smigus Dingus, where boys would pour water over girl’s head on Easter Monday. With each story, I grew more and more excited about the topics. For once I felt proud of my culture.

I am not going to sit here and say that everyone loved my Polishness, thought I was a cool cat, and I lived happily ever after. However, school life did become more enjoyable. Everytime I opened my lunchbox, I could munch on my snacks in peace and even give a little story about them. Every now and then, I would sing a tune from a ‘Disco Polo’ song. The world didn’t end, and people simply accepted that it was me. A few kids even loved it!

The point is, you shouldn’t be ashamed of your roots. Your culture is just part of the building blocks that make you, you. Sometimes, it even spices things up. Not everyone is going to like you for it, but not everyone is life is going to like you anyways. You just have to express yourself the way you’ve always wanted to, and the positive people are the ones that will be attracted.



Element Print (Cadmium)- Michal Czapla

Posted by Michal Czapla in Art - Freshman · Hull · d1 Band on
My element was Cadmium, which has the atomic number of 48. Cadmium is a natural metal that is toxic heavy. It is commonly found in batteries, TV screens, and cigarette smoke, which is what I based my print on. I got my idea from billboards that I see on the highway and advertisements in SEPTA trains that smoke pictures of people smoking. I found the shape of the smoke to be very interesting and thought it would make for a good positive/negative space project. 

To make my print, I first made a sketch of what my print would look like on paper. Next, I used a piece of styrofoam that was 4x6 and indented in my final drawing. Then, I painted over the styrofoam and placed it under a piece of paper, rubbing it with a spoon so I could eventually stain it nicely. This was my favorite step because it was fun trying to get the right amount of paint and using the spoon for long enough to make sure it looked good. I repeated that step several times before I got 3 solid prints. I then cut the edges by placing a ruler along the sides and ripping the paper to get some nice cuts. Finally, I glued the print onto a 5x7 piece of construction paper. If I did this project all over again, I'd use a bit more paint and be more patient with the spoon step because I think I rushed on that part, which is why you can see some white dots on parts of my print. Overall, it was a fun project to work on. 
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Positive/Negative Space- Cut Out(Michal Czapla)

Posted by Michal Czapla in Art - Freshman · Hull · d1 Band on
A. Negative space is the space that is around the object/ not focused on. It defines the boundaries of the object. 
B. I found the negative space by first figuring out what the main object was. That allowed me to find the space that was around or in between it, which was the negative space. 
C. Negative space can help an artist by making the focus of the picture stand out. 
D. Yes, negative space does enhance the image. It allows the viewer to see how the space around the object shapes and molds the object itself. 
2018-04-23 14-48_page_1

Remix Of 1 Google Slide

Posted by Michal Czapla in Technology - Freshman · Hull · d2 Band on
Soccer (3)

My name is Michal Czapla, and this is the google slide that I have created after weeks of planning and designing. Before this unit began, I had virtually no knowledge on this topic, but I soon got the hang of it and tried my best. After the critique of my google slide, I learned that I'm not that far off making a great slide design. That being said, I still have much to learn. Even when I did a lot of research, my classmates and Mrs. Hull pointed out a few changes I could make that I wouldn’t ever of thought of.


 The critique of my google slide inspired me to make a few changes to my slide design. I unstretched the soccer ball and foot in exchange for the foot not bleeding off of the page, which my peers told me wasn't necessary. Also, I moved the text a bit so it looked more like the ball was getting kicked into it. Finally, I made the name of the person who made the quote larger and even used Mrs. Hull's tips to lower it and have the name pop out. These changes were crucial to making my slide easier on the eyes and better overall.


To create my slide, I used a few sources for this project. There were several websites that Mrs. Hull linked in the canvas assignment, but I found that Presentation Zen and a bit of google allowed me to learn the basics of designing. That was the reason why I wasn't killed during my presentation. Overall, this unit was a great learning experience, and I'm going to continue to improve and get better.


Michal's Slide

Posted by Michal Czapla in Technology - Freshman · Hull · d2 Band on
Soccer (1)
 Soccer has been with me ever since I was a young boy. I think I learned to kick a ball before I learned to speak words. That has lead me to create a slide involving soccer. As you can see, I’ve formatted the slide using the rule of thirds by adding the foot and soccer ball in one corner and the quote in the top left. This allows the focus of your eyes to draw into the composition instead of just glancing at the center. I also put some empty space to achieve a more balanced look in my slide and use the empty space (or night sky) to my advantage. I even made the foot bleed off of the page to really add more “umph” and only focused on the foot itself since that’s what the quote is about. The quote I placed in is from soccer legend Zinedine Zidane (who is one of my idols) and it really connects with me because it teaches me to be grateful for what I have even if things don’t go well for me in life, whether that’s in sports or in schoolwork. I put it in EB Garamond font because I found out that most people use that font when writing quotes. The font color itself is white so that it can contrast with the black background and catch the viewer's eye easily. 

All of these steps have allowed me to attempt at making a professional slide. This whole experience has really taught me a lot about slide design. Before this assignment, I legit didn't know about most of these tricks, and now that I know about them I can see how it improves the look on my slide. I'm definitely going to be viewing billboards and ads differently from now on. My whole perspective on designs has completely changed, and it will help shape bigger and better projects in the future. 

Digital Home Network- Michal Czapla

Posted by Michal Czapla in Technology - Freshman · Hull · d2 Band on
My Digital Home Network

a. My L.A.N. starts out with my modem router, which is connected by a coax cable, and my ISP is Comcast. Then from there, my phone, my brother's phone, my mom's phone, my dad's phone, and my sister's iPad are all wireless. Also, my chromebook, my brother's chromebook, my mom's laptop, and my dad's laptop are also wireless. My TV is wireless, but connected to my television is my XBOX, which is plugged in with an HDMI cable. Finally, my iMac and printer and connected with each other wirelessly, and both get connection from the internet wirelessly.

b. I learned that the internet isn't a cloud in the sky, even though that's how it's shown on my Lucid Chart. It actually exists somewhere on our planet! Also, I learned about how much complexity my home network really has and how it doesn't just "get" the internet. 

c. I would tell other people to take the time and find out all of the different connections in their home so they have a better understanding of what they're doing when they actually get an ISP/Home Network. 
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