TIDBITS of Spokane County, WA by John Ortiz

New eveNts

IN the

Community Living section

See Page 5

February 27, 2009

Issue #603

Published By: J. O. & Assoc., LLC www.spokanetidbits.com ads@spokanetidbits.com For Advertising Call (888) 884-6371 www.roundyskawasaki.com

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TIDBITS NAMES NAMES by Paige Lozier

This edition of Tidbits is about first names, last names, middle names, popular names, unusual names, and all things name-related! • Throughout Europe, the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand, the traditional pattern for identifying people is by use of a first name (sometimes called a Christian or given name) and a last name (a surname or family name.) The key distinction between the two is that the surname is passed down and shared among family members, while the first name is given to a person, usually by his parents. • Assigning a middle name to a child is a practice pretty much limited to the Western world. Even then, christening a baby with more than one given name wasn’t really a tradition until the early 1800s. The phrase “middle name” first appeared in a U.S. dictionary in 1835. After a while, it became something of a status symbol to list one’s first name, middle initial and then last name on business cards, letters, etc. • The word nickname evolved from the mispronunciation of the term “ekename.” Dictionaries back to the 14th century define ekename as an “additional” or “little” name. • Many common Anglo-Saxon surnames are actually professions, which is how common people were often identified during the Middle Ages. For example, a cooper was a barrel maker, a fletcher was an arrow maker, a tanner worked with leather, and a miller ground wheat into flour. We’ll let you guess what Mr. Baker, Mr. Carver, Mr. Weaver and Mr. Fisher used to do for a living. • From medieval times onward, one of the most common ways to coin a nickname was to drop the first syllable of a person’s formal first name. Thus, Andrew became Drew, Elizabeth became Beth, Alfred became Fred, and Rebecca became Becca. • Per the 2000 Census, the three most common U.S. surnames were identical to those found in

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THIS IS A HAMMER By Samantha Mazzotta

How to Silence a Squeaky Floor Q: The hardwood floor in my loft apartment is beautiful. It’s very old and has a rough look from generations of use, but the floorboards squeak loudly in several places. The landlord says the floors are as-is and won’t repair them, but he did say I could try to fix the problem myself. How do I do that? -- Tony B., Boston A: Squeaky floorboards are an annoying problem, and can be an expensive fix depending on the cause of the squeak. If the boards just squeak when stepped on and don’t sag under your weight, the sound can be minimized without too much work. Floorboards squeak because one board is rubbing against another. On a perfect floor, boards don’t rub against one another because they lie flat against the subflooring and are placed firmly side by side. Over the years, however, heat, cold and damp, as well as everyday use, cause the boards to swell and contract, sag under heavy weight, and spring up away from the subfloor. A quick fix, one that works on minor squeaks, is to squeeze graphite powder between the boards. (Some folks use talcum powder instead.) This lubricates the joints, and although the boards still rub against each other when you walk over them, the squeak will be minimized or disappear -- but only for as long as the lubricant stays in place. Larger squeaks and sagging boards take a bit more work. If you have access to the subflooring (unlikely in an apartment building), stand beneath it as someone walks across the floor above and pinpoint the squeaky areas. Then, hammer shims (thin wedges of wood) between the joist nearest the squeak and the subflooring, and put wood screws up through the subfloor to the center of each board to reattach them to the subfloor. Chances are you don’t have access to the subfloor, so you’ll have to work from the top. In this case, locate the squeaky spots and hammer finishing nails into the edges of the boards at several spots. Angle the nails slightly so they’ll have less chance to work back out. You can also re-anchor the boards to the subfloor from this direction by placing either nails or screws along the center of each board. Drill a pilot hole first, and then either drive a nail or a screw into the board, sinking the head of the nail below the board surface. Fill the small hole that results with wood putty to hide the nail head. If a floorboard squeaks and sags so much that you’re afraid you’ll fall through, it’s time to re-engage the attention of the landlord. Check the lease laws in your state -- most lean in favor of the tenant. If the flooring problem is so severe that it impacts your ability to live comfortably in the apartment, the landlord has an obligation to fix it. HOME TIP: Winter is the best time of the year to cut firewood. It’s easier to cut in the cold weather, and by next fall the wood will be seasoned and ready for the fireplace. Send questions or home-repair tips to homeguru2000@ hotmail.com, or write This Is a Hammer, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475. (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

Parity Isn’t Working To hear NASCAR tell it, Brian France is a regular Thomas Jefferson. The NASCAR chairman and CEO wants equality. He wants all his race cars to be created equal. NASCAR, like so many other professional sports, has been “trending parity” for well over a decade now, but the new car, implemented partially two years ago and fully last year, is the ultimate step. Trouble is, parity isn’t working. In 2001, 19 different drivers won races. Last year there were 12. The number has gone down in six of the last eight seasons. Two years ago, one multi-car team, Hendrick Motorsports, won half the races. Last year three drivers -Carl Edwards (9), Kyle Busch (8) and Sprint Cup champion Jimmie Johnson (7) -- combined to win two-thirds of the races. Four teams divided up the 12 spots in the Chase for the Sprint Cup. In short, while NASCAR was making everything just alike, the rich were getting richer and the poor poorer. This comes to no surprise to one of the sport’s elite owners, Jack Roush, who doesn’t much mind. “It’s not going to be the case that a change in the car is really going to dramatically change the make-up of who wins the races and which manufacturers are dominant and other things,” he said. “I think the cream will rise to the top regardless.” If this pattern doesn’t change this year, NASCAR’s got problems. The facts are undeniable. In the short term, making the cars almost just alike has made the outcomes of too many races just alike. That wasn’t the plan. The teams with the most resources figured out the new car more quickly, and Victory Lane has become more and more exclusive. Last year Jeff Gordon, Matt Kenseth and Kevin Harvick didn’t win any races. Dale Earnhardt Jr. won one. Fans of those four drivers take up a hefty share of the seats in NASCAR grandstands. There is, however, hope. Perhaps there’s still a bit of “tomorrow” left in the new car. Maybe the haves will start catching up this year. It remains to be seen wheth-

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TIDBITS NAMES NAMES (continued): 1990: Smith is #1, followed by Johnson and Williams. The changing face of the American population is readily apparent further down the list, however. In 1990, #8 was Wilson, followed by Moore at #9. Ten years later, those names were knocked out of their slots by Garcia and Rodriguez. • In England as a whole, the three most common last names are Jones, Williams, and Taylor. But limit the search to the Greater London area, and the top three slots are occupied by Brown, Smith, and Patel. The latter name reflects the large number of Indian families who have relocated to the capital. • Until 2008, parents in Sweden had to receive approval from the national government when selecting a legal name for their new baby. Offensive words, culturally inappropriate terms, and some product names were considered taboo. When the law was finally repealed last year, two different families celebrated the decision by naming their new bundles of joy Budweiser and Metallica, respectively. (Yes, really.) • The Screen Actors Guild forbids two members to join using the same name. When Michael Keaton first came to Hollywood, he was unable to use his real name. There was already an actor named Michael Douglas, as well as a talk show host who went by Mike Douglas. Annie Hall was a hit film at the time, so he borrowed the last name of lead actress Diane Keaton. Ever since, he’s had to field questions concerning his relation to Diane or silent film star ‘Buster’ Keaton. turn the page for more Tidbits!

www.spokanetidbits.com er or not that is just wishful thinking. Kurt Busch finished only 18th in the standings last year -- he won the championship in 2004 -- but he sees light at the end of the tunnel. “Quite a bit of work is going down, but in the end, this Car of Tomorrow is going to be a good thing,” he said. “I can’t say that right now it’s approved by everybody’s standards, but for us and myself, the interjection of safety is obviously the key thing.” Michael Waltrip has the perspective of both driver and owner, and he’s been struggling recently in both capacities. NASCAR’s decision to ban most testing hasn’t diminished his optimism. “I might be wrong,” said Waltrip, “but I do believe that we’re learning as much or more about the new car than we ever have before with computer simulation, and with seven-post shaker machines and the wind tunnel. “I feel real confident that things are going to get better this year.” Monte Dutton has covered motorsports for The Gaston (N.C.) Gazette since 1993. He was named writer of the year by the National Motorsports Press Association in 2008. His blog NASCAR This Week (http://nascar.rbma. com) features all of his reporting on racing, roots music and life on the road. You can e-mail Monte at nascar_ thisweek@yahoo.com. (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

PHOTO CUTLINE: Parity in NASCAR is hard to see when three Cup drivers -- Carl Edwards (above), Kyle Busch and Jimmie Johnson -- combined to win twothirds of the races. (Getty Images photo)

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wrong path? Oh, yeah! Certainly there are honorable adjusters, but there are some that will stretch the truth and more. Don’t be combative, but don’t be a wimp, either. And don’t sign a release until both your head and your heart know that you have been treated fairly. - Dave

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TIDBITS NAMES NAMES (continued): • Comedian Albert Brooks isn’t the only member of his family who changed his name. His father took a new last name to become radio comedian Harry Parke, and his brother is better known as comic stuntman “Super” Dave Osborne. The last name that appears on each of their birth certificates, however, is Einstein. • What’s the difference between having “Junior” or “II” after your name? Technically speaking, if you are given exactly the same first and middle name as your father, then you are a junior. If you have the same first and middle name as another relative (such as a grandfather or an uncle), and your father has a different name, then you would properly add the “II” suffix to the end of your name. And although women tend to refrain from using it in this manner, females having the same first and middle names as their mothers are also classified as “juniors.” • While it’s rarely done today, traditional etiquette dictates that numerical suffixes (III, IV, etc.) evolve as the family grows older. That is, when Aaron Bernard Cook, Jr., passes away, Aaron Bernard Cook III becomes Junior, and any other relatives also named “Aaron Bernard Cook” would move up in rank. This rule does not apply to popes or to members of royal families. • The title before a person’s name is called the “honorific.” Mister, Mistress, Miss, Doctor, Reverend, and Professor are examples of common American honorifics. • The use of “John Doe” as an anonymous or nameless person originated in England during the reign of King Henry VIII. Landowners with vast parcels of acreage often had to go to court to evict squatters from their property, and since they did not know the proper names of these illegal tenants, John Doe was coined to allow them to properly complete the necessary legal documents. Since every legal action required two witnesses, “Richard Roe” became the fill-in defendant. • Studies have shown that cats respond more readily to names that end in an “ee” sound (Frisky, Blackie, Smoky, Sparky, and so on.) Most kittens will eventually learn their names no matter how unusual or exotic, but experts recommend that those who wish to adopt an adult cat choose an “ee” name if they want him/her to learn it quickly. • “Max” wasn’t among the 150 most popular baby names according to the most recent U.S. census, but the name is number one in several pet categories. The most popular dog names are Max, Buddy, and Molly. For cats, it’s Max, Tigger, and Tiger. The list for birds reads Max, Sunny, and Buddy. “Max love” is lost, however, on more unusual pets like lizards (Iggy, Leo and Godzilla) and rodents (Buddy, Bandit and Thumper). • In the past 30 years or so, it has become popular to give baby girls surname-like first names like McKenzie, MacKayla, and Addison. Parents should keep in mind, however, that the prefix Mc and Mac and the suffix son all literally mean “son of.” So little Madison’s name, for example, actually means “Son of Maude.” The End

Page 3

Dear Dave, A tree fell on our house yesterday and did quite a bit of damage. We’re talking with the insurance company now. Is there anything we should watch out for where they are concerned? Ian Dear Ian, For openers, the insurance adjuster is not your pal. He works for a huge company which got that way by paying as little as possible. You have lots of rights under your policy, and you should insist on all of them. Let them know that you expect your house to be put back in exactly the same shape it was before the accident, and that you expect the work to be completed in a professional manner, and as quickly as humanly possible, by contractors whom you get to approve. This is your home we’re talking about! You’ve paid premiums for years, and now it’s time for the company to make good on their promise to protect you. Adjusters are loyal to the company that pays them. There’s nothing wrong with that. Will some of them lie? You bet! Will some of them give you bad advice or send you down the

(burned by the bonus!) Dear Dave, My husband always gets a bonus at work around the first of the year. The problem is that his company never takes enough out in taxes, and we get clobbered at tax time. He makes $150,000 a year, and this time his bonus was $105,000. They withheld 18 percent, but that’s not enough. What should we do? Karen Dear Karen, If you guys make $150,000 a year, that puts you in the 33 percent tax bracket – with or without the bonus. That means 33 to 38 percent of his bonus money will end up in Washington . If I woke up in your shoes, I wouldn’t leave it up to the government or the company to get it right. I’d put about 22 percent of the bonus amount into a money market account just to be safe. I’d just let it sit there and be ready when tax time rolls around. That way you’ll be fine if you owe money, and you’ll have some extra savings if you don’t! - Dave * For more great financial advice, please visit www.davesays.org.

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Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA Fake Hero Exposed, Sent to Prison

Another phony will serve time in prison for wearing military medals he didn’t earn and for talking about exploits he wasn’t part of. Somebody turned him in. According to an FBI press release, Dale G. Farr told people he earned his medals -- Silver Star, Purple Heart and Bronze Star with V -- for gallantry in action. The medals were real, but he wasn’t. Farr claimed he was a captain in the Special Forces. (Don’t they always say that?) No, he was an Army private, briefly. Was bounced, so they say, for misconduct. Farr said he lost his leg in Afghanistan, which is how he supposedly got the medals. Nope -- he lost his leg in a motorcycle accident. Farr got Purple Heart tags for his car. Bought a car with a veteran’s discount. It goes on and on.

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The story cranked up the online blog writers, with people jabbering left and right when this first came out, claiming to know Farr, claiming to have seen him in parades and wearing the medals and telling stories. It’s not often, I imagine, that the Attorney General’s office has such a ready (and I assume willing) group of witnesses on hand to testify. I was disturbed, though, by one poster who claimed to have been bothered for more than a year by Farr’s actions. Why, we’d all like to know, didn’t he speak up in the beginning? Are YOU sitting on any information regarding a wanna-be? All it took to start the process to bring this guy down was a letter to the FBI. If you suspect someone of being a phony but are on the fence about whether to speak up, consider this a nudge. You’ll be doing all of us a favor.

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lower your Risk for Dementia A six-year Swedish study came up with an interesting discovery: Seniors who are calm are at less risk for developing dementia. In the past it was believed that being highly anxious and stressed was associated with having a greater risk for dementia. On the other hand, if one had an active social life, it was believed there was a lower risk. Now, however, researchers have determined that social interaction isn’t the whole story. Even if your lifestyle is very socially isolated, a low anxiety level lowers your risk. If you’re a low-stress social butterfly, you’re doubly covered. Lowered stress and anxiety seems to be the key to lowering the risk for dementia. Which is easier said than done. It’s more common to be stressed-out now, and a lot of us are anxious in these crazy times.

All you have to do is turn on the TV news or open the newspaper in the morning for a good dose of stress. There’s not much we can do about a lot of what’s going on, but we can control how we react to it. There are dozens of ways to lower stress, and we just have to find the ones that work for us individually. Walking with a group, enrolling in a painting or sculpture class, or doing meditation or yoga at the senior center -- these are all effective stress reducers. Get enough sleep, unplug the phone and read for an hour, or write in a gratitude journal to focus on what’s right in your life. Lowered stress levels can positively impact our health and mental well-being. And now we have an even greater reason to reduce our anxiety ... we’ll lower our risk for dementia. Matilda Charles regrets that she cannot personally answer reader questions, but will incorporate them into her column whenever possible. Write to her in care of King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or send e-mail to columnreply@gmail.com. (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Page 5

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Sensational Chicken Soup There is nothing better than a great bowl of soup. Comforting and warming on a cold winter’s night. If you are feeling a little under the weather, chicken noodle is what the doctor ordered. 2 (16-ounce) cans fat-free chicken broth 1/4 cup water 1 cup thinly sliced carrots 1 cup thinly sliced celery 1 scant cup uncooked noodles 1 1/2 cups (8 ounces) diced cooked chicken breast 1 teaspoon dried parsley flakes 1/8 teaspoon black pepper In a large saucepan, combine chicken broth, carrots and celery. Bring mixture to a boil. Stir in uncooked noodles, chicken, parsley flakes and black pepper. Lower heat, cover and simmer for 10 to 12 minutes or until vegetables and noodles are tender, stirring occasionally. Serves 4. HINT: If you don’t have leftovers, purchase a chunk of cooked chicken breast from your local deli. • Each serving equals: 179 calories, 3g fat, 23g protein, 15g carbs, 498mg sodium, 34mg calcium, 2g fiber; Diabetic Exchanges: 2 Meat, 1 Vegetable, 1 Starch; Carb Choices: 1. Visit Healthy Exchanges at www.healthyexchanges.com, or call toll-free at 1-800-7668961 to sign-up for our FREE monthly newsletter. All you pay is the shipping and handling. This is the only national food newsletter for diabetics, heart/cholesterol concerns and healthy weight loss. (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

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To have your community event listed in this section of TIDBiTS, email us at: ads@spokanetidbits.com. Free space is limited. Spokane's 31st Annual Home and Yard Show February 26, 27, 28 & March 1st Spokane Fair & Expo Center - 404 N. Havana, Spokane Thursday: Noon-9:00pm / Friday:Noon-9:00pm Saturday:10am-8pm / Sunday:10am-5pm Admission: $6

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Tidbits® of Spokane County, WA Health & Fitness by

Doreen Fox Kelsey

Health is Money Most everyone is familiar with the common cliché that “time is money.” But consider how great an impact that illness can have on your finances, and you might be more likely to say that “health is money.” Health care is merely expensive, but illness can be catastrophic, even for those with health care insurance. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, health care insurance premiums have more than doubled, increasing by 117 percent, in less than ten years. Over the same time period, general inflation increased by 29 percent and wages by 34 percent. But that is just the cost of insurance. Annual healthcare spending in the United States exceeds $6,000 per person. And, the cost of illness is responsible for about half of all bankruptcies, according to a study conducted jointly by the Harvard Law School and the Harvard Medical School. The study published in 2005 in the journal Health Affairs found that uncovered medical costs averaged $13,460 for bankruptcy filers with private insurance. Patients who were treated for cancer had an average $35,878 in medical debt. Most of the bankruptcy filers interviewed for the study were middle class income earners, and the majority were homeowners. Medical experts agree that most chronic illnesses are preventable. And, up to 90 percent of health care costs are related to the treat-

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ment of preventable illness. Many chronic illnesses are caused by high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, obesity or lack of physical activity, all of which can be modified by lifestyle and dietary choices. Obesity, in particular, is linked to many types of cancer, including colon, breast, endometrial, kidney, esophageal, pancreatic and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphona cancers. The World Health Organization says that a few simple lifestyle changes can help prevent chronic disease leading to the most common causes of death – heart disease, cancer, stroke, respiratory disease, and diabetes. People should eat less energy-dense foods such as simple carbohydrates and saturated fats and more nutrient-rich foods such as fruits and vegetables, which contribute fewer calories and more immune-boosting micro-nutrients. Cutting the amount of salt also is important. And, so is exercise. The recommended amount is one hour of moderate-intensity activity per day. In these uncertain economic times, there are many things outside your control. High unemployment will put pressure on wages, so even if you’re fortunate to keep your job, you may face stagnant or decreasing income. The shine is off the stock market, and it may be years before your 401K or other investments regain their former luster. The one thing you can change is how you manage your health, and that could reap huge savings.

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Doreen Fox Kelsey is a consumer advocate and freelance writer with expertise in ﬁnancial and physical wellness based in Spokane, Wash. She can be contacted at dfoxkelsey@ hotmail.com.

PAWS CORNER By Sam Mazzotta

Old-Time Remedy for Ear Infection

DEAR PAW’S CORNER: I read your column about the Shih Tzu and its problem with ear infections, and wanted to pass on something I learned many years ago from an old-time eye, ear, nose and throat specialist. This also works for children who are prone to swimmer’s ear. I had two hunting breed dogs with long ears, and we lived right on the shores of Lake Michigan, so they were constantly having ear problems. What the doctor told me is as follows: Have the patient lie with the bad ear up. Using a plastic eyedropper ﬁlled with hydrogen peroxide (dilute peroxide with water before use), gently squirt the contents into the ear. Allow this to bubble for at least a minute. Thoroughly dry the ear, and use Q-tips carefully to clean out the debris. After the ear is as dry as possible, tap Desenex powder down into the ear with the patient lying on his or her side again so the powder gets down into the ear. This may have to be done every other day for a week, but it worked

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for me -- both with my dogs and my children. I hope this treatment helps “Sandy.” -- Bernie W. in Ormond Beach, Fla. DEAR BERNIE: This type of treatment is available (for humans) in a kit at drugstores featuring a diluted solution of hydrogen peroxide. I would exercise caution in using this treatment with small dogs, however. I also strongly recommend that owners whose pets are experiencing an ear infection, either for the ﬁrst time or recurring, go to their veterinarian ﬁrst to have the ears examined. The vet should test for evidence of ear mites, a yeast infection or other cause. Ear mites can be quickly treated, but recurring ear infections can be trickier -- topical medicines often only treat the symptoms, and the cause, such as allergies, can take more time and effort to diagnose. Send your tips, questions and comments to Paw’s Corner, c/o King Features Weekly Service, P.O. Box 536475, Orlando, FL 32853-6475, or e-mail them to pawscorner@hotmail.com. (c) 2009 King Features Synd., Inc.

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Author Jane Nord, of Spokane, Washington, has written her first children’s title, Paranoia: A Cat’s Tale. The book released nationwide last week.

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The book is available at any bookstore nationwide or can be ordered through the publisher at www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore, or by visting barnesandnoble.com, amazon.com or target.com. Paranoia is also an eLIVE title, meaning each copy contains a code redeemable for a free audio download of the book from the publisher’s website. eLIVE-Listen, Imagine, View, and Experience! Jane has a special place in her heart for children and animals. Visit her web site www.paranoiaacatstale.com. She is available for speaking engagements for schools, community and church groups who are interested in promoting a gentler, more human society.

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*Ambient Lighting cont...New-work units, which are used where you have access, are easy to install; cut-in, or remodeling, models are also available. Many downlights produce a lot of heat, so you must either remove insulation within 3 inches of the fixture or buy an “IC” fixture that is rated for direct contact with surrounding materials. -Track systems are mounted to the wall or ceiling either directly or with mounting clips. Power is typically provided by a wire-in connector that’s mounted to a housing box (plug-in units are also available). Tracks can accommodate pendant fixtures, clipon lamps, and low-voltage spotlights, as well as a large selection of standard fixtures. Track connectors allow some systems to be extended indefinitely--in a straight line, at an angle, or even in a rectangular pattern. Tracks with numerous fixtures may be powered by more than one circuit.

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