Wednesday, October 30, 2019
The understanding of language learning Article Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words
The understanding of language learning - Article Example The view of learning as changing participation is radically different from theories of second language (L2) acquisition that frame language learning as a cognitive process residing in the mind-brain of an individual learner. Many scholars in the cognitive tradition have accepted a view of language as a set of clearly delineated and internally coherent structures that are best understood as a self-contained system. The methodology followed here is that of participatory research and the main limitation of the same is the possibility of bias of the researcher owing to his or her involvement. Not enough is said about the unbiased nature of the method though we find that the researcher learns in the process. Moreover, a cross-sectional analysis would have led to a more justifiable and generalized set of results. The method followed here is a specific case though structured longitudinally. Also, the main limitation of the study is the inability to capture the ethnic or racial differences r eflected in the discursive practice because the study is based on a Vietnamese learner. The representations of the findings and the final analysis or conclusion of the researchers are presented in a complex manner and at times the observations are repetitive in nature. Even considering all limitations, the purpose and findings of the study are interesting and revealing in the area of discursive practice and the interactional process of research. ... The methodology followed here is that of participatory research and the main limitation of the same is the possibility of bias of the researcher owing to his or her involvement. Not enough is said about the unbiased nature of the method though we find that the researcher learns in the process. Moreover a cross sectional analysis would have led to a more justifiable and generalized set of results. The method followed here is a specific case though structured longitudinally. Also the main limitation of the study is the inability to capture the ethnic or racial differences reflected in the discursive practice because the study is based on a Vietnamese learner. The representations of the findings and the final analysis or conclusion of the researchers are presented in a complex manner and at times the observations are repetitive in nature. Even considering all limitations, the purpose and findings of the study are interesting and revealing in the area of discursive practice and interacti onal process of research. Capturing the over time changes in communication is the most significant part of the research. Again study explores both verbal and non verbal methods of communication which makes it more complete though not very inclusive in terms of sample choice. Excerpts i. Just before the opening of revision talk in the first conference, in Excerpt 1 â€Å"the instructor and student discuss a tragic event in the student’s life that he had written about in his paper. Years before, he had stepped on a land mine in his native country of Vietnam and, as a result, lost part of a leg. Although the event was mentioned in the student’s paper and, thus, we could say the topic of their interaction emerged from the text, their conversation focuses on topics not mentioned
Monday, October 28, 2019
Geddes Garden City Essay Example for Free
Geddes Garden City Essay Introduction            The American Political Economist who authored the best read book titled Progress and Poverty (Lause) defined urbanization as â€Å"This life of great cities is not the natural life of man. He must, under such conditions, deteriorate, physically, mentally, and morally â€Å". To consider his point, the author view that life must be maintained in a serene atmosphere and not in a busy city just like those old good days that red beans or the cocoa is enough to send every household child to a good school.            Henry George began musing on this concept when the new railroad transport was developed in California that made an influence on high land values and influx of ordinary people to city life. That development in one place brought about overcrowding and had wayward implications on the sustainability of the natural environment. However, his idea provided economic reforms that made improvements of the life of the working classes possible.            Cities are indications of developments and of the visible civilizations of the history of man. It takes a process of transformation that is unique and at the same time diverse. This work is aimed at explaining the town concepts during the period of industrialization from the beginning of mass transportation and birth of new cities in particular on how Geddes observed and analyze these processes. Sustainability of the Man-built Environment            It was concluded by Henry George that the man-built environment is something that will not last. However, Patrick Geddes the Leonardo da Vinci of the 20th century teaches and reaffirms that our world environment could be sustained provided that man cooperates in the process. It has to be sustained in order that the life cycle of the young generation’s continues.            His statement is not a contradiction to George’s philosophy but a possible solution to man’s current problems. His reaffirmation brought to the world a new hope that even though life cycle is limited, this world is still something worthy to be cared for and it can endure. The positive attitude of George influences not only his neighbors but the human settlement at large during his time to the present.            There are issues on industrialization which brings wealth but at the same time destroys the natural environment caused by pollutants. For this reason, Geddes made it clear that man do not live by the jingling of his coins.  There is always a chain effect if one resource is used in accordingly. He provided a solution written in the Evergreen book that a sustainable world is as simple as making it comfortably green. His conviction reminded even planners that if developments are unchecked it would create more disaster than improvements.            Globally, everyone breathe the same air that a poor or a developed nation breathes. The current concern do not deals alone with affordability but also sustainability. With the pressing trend of modernization, comfortable living is expensive and value for money is usually a rare find. The problem of overcrowding in the cities and the lack of economic growth in the rural areas still remains to be a problem on poorly planned cities. The increase of deteriorating cities will lead to the decline of the global sustainability. The idea here is to provide developmental options that are definitely relevant to every cities of the world. His mottos â€Å"by creating we think and by living we learn was made to good use by educating people about their environment (Grewar).†The new housing design for workers, organizing his neighbors to renovate houses and build gardens made an indelible mark in his works which can still be seen in every postcard of the city’s Royal Mile that even Albert Einstein admired and has honored him (Grewar). The Garden City Movement Patrick Geddes three dimensional thinking (geography, economics and anthropology) places social sciences above math and logic, biology, chemistry and physics. His belief that†the earth as a cooperative planet must teach people on how to treat properly their environment and is aimed specifically on educating children, improving the physical quality of life through biological knowledge by producing better medicines, and understanding human influence on ecology (Killiecrankie).†Geddes bridging social sciences with biology even influenced his biographer Lewis Mumford on the simple idea that man just like plants and animals thrived in healthy conditions which are expressed in one of the extracts of Geddes writings; â€Å"The world is mainly vast leaf-colony, growing on and forming a leafy soil, not a mere mineral mass, and we live not by the jingling of our coins, but by the fullness of our harvest. This is green world, with animals comparatively small, and all independent upon leaves. By leaves we live (Grewar).†            Mumford an architectural critic and is particularly noted for his study on urbanization of the environment regarded technology as the destroyer of environment even if he qualifies that electricity could lead to the improvements of the social spheres (University). His works are indications that technology must be regulated. During the late 18th century Garden Cities began to evolve through the works of city and town planners particularly the works of Ebenezer Howard in UK influenced by the philosophy of Geddes new approach in urban planning called the garden city movement. Howard began to build self-sustaining towns that combines convenience and industries located on agricultural sites (Sir Ebenezer Howard).†Howard realizes that no matter from what nation a man belongs, there is but one social issue which is difficult to solve and that is problems on housing and labor. This propelled many to advocate the new movement and increases the awareness on the concept of â€Å"decency of surroundings†and that includes, ample spaces, clean housing with gardens, and preservation of landscapes (Letchworth). The First Garden City            Letchworth City is founded by Howard and is the first garden city of the world; in 1905 the garden city movement became involved in the exhibits of new housing called the workers cottage or housing for the working class in which some of it still stood today. Those cheap but strong and functional residences can be affordable to workers. Some of these cottages made of wood or concrete can still be found in Letchworth streets and is now being conserved.            Some of the prototype housing called the workers cottages influences the human settlement design of this century. This new housing designed sprawled even to the west for instance the workers cottages of Architect Maybeck of California and to the whole world at least giving man an accommodation that he humanly deserves. Mass Transportation            Fast developments are due to improved transportation and communications. The streets affect the life of all its inhabitants and this vision is very much encouraged in order to serve a huge population. This is indeed very necessary but at the same time may lead to a city decline. This entails thorough planning on how to maintain a good life in a cellular metropolis.            Victor Gruen a planning practitioner, mentioned in his last publicized works that â€Å"auto sprawl would cripple the global ecosystem and brings about physical and psychological starvation of the urbanized man (Hill).† Today, some cities plants a good number of trees for every parking slots or spaces created. Planning theories must be integrated to transit that is useful to automobile cities and providing more mass transit and more freeways.            Automobile cities, needs more spaces unlike the old horse tracks during the colonial times. Human settlement today cannot tolerate a waste of space in places where living condition is dense. Somehow, these dense spaces are capable of providing the maximum comfort for man by means of mechanical equipments in buildings. In this cities life is fast and expensive. Technology is a provision for man’s comfort and not a means to enslave but more often than not it is the other way around. However, there are many fast developing cities that is capable of coping with the new technology because work is valued in congruent with the dignity of man.            Gruen proposes a plan that could justify economic productivity of big cities and at the same time create sub cities that would adapt to what he calls â€Å"megalopolitan sprawl†. However, globalization could also mean going beyond ones land area. There is still vast area of lands wanting to be developed. There are many nations that are in need to cope with the present dynamics of the new world technology. And while there are other places where overpopulation is a problem there are affluent cities in the second millennium that the inverted population growth also presupposes danger. Conclusion            In the abstract written by Dr. Mervyn Miller, he mentioned the book written by the founder of Letchworth, â€Å"Tomorrow a Peaceful Path to Real Reform†written in 1898 is very much true to our society of today. He recalls that the garden city is a potent concept in the emergence of the 20th century cities.            Contemporary planners addressed the issue by following the course of people like Geddes. However, due to the increase in the demand on the lease to life, those familiar workers cottages are considered mini-mansions of many career oriented people of today. Ample spaces are defined as functional spaces due to the ever increasing cost per area of construction in square foot or in meters. Coping with life that is becoming unsustainable is becoming a depressing problem even more than how George views it in his time. The internationalist who believes that nothing is gained by overcrowding still support the issue on the green environment that is very relevant today. However, there are trends that are still needed to be discovered and be rediscovered especially within the new technology along on how this new ideas can be within the reach of everyone. The key here is what kind of technology should be provided to sustain the ordinary man of the streets. The approach that Geddes concept has provided in his time is for the working class of the industrialized period. That became the reason why today’s environmentalist regarded Geddes a steward in land use and its sustainability. Today, a number of men with the same aspirations of those Internationalist described is very much needed. This fast growing old planet needs people who are a hundred percent human beings in the middle of the electro- mechanical world. Works Cited Grewar, Mindy. Vivendo Discimus: Everything in the Garden Is Magnifique for the Anniversary Celebrations of a Great Scot. (2004). 11 April 2008 http://www.scotland.org/about/history-tradition-and-roots/features/education/geddes.html. Hill, David R. Sustainability, Victor Gruen, and the Cellular Metropolis. (2008). 11 April 2008 http://www.questia.com/googleScholar.qst;jsessionid=H1TcfmZ4RRyJKG06dF94gjTT9hyHh99GrVvwdzytZzVnn6Lq771Y!-798756091?docId=5001677813. Killiecrankie. Patrick Geddes 1854-1932. (2008). 11 April 2008 http://www.visitkilliecrankie.com/patrick-geddes.htm. Lause, Mark. Henry George. 11 April 2008 http://www.geocities.com/CollegePark/Quad/6460/bio/G/eorge.html. Letchworth. Letchworth the First Garden City  (2007). 11 April 2008 http://lgc.amolad.net/heritage/index-3.htm. Sir Ebenezer Howard. (2007). 11 April 2008 http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-HowardEb.html. University, Regent. Lewis Mumford (1895-1988). (2007). 11 April 2008 http://www.regent.edu/acad/schcom/rojc/mdic/mumford.html.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Second language acquisition is when a child or adult has already become
Second language acquisition is when a child or adult has already become competent at a language and then attempts to learn ano. Comment to the language teaching method, combine with your own learning experience, choose one or more teaching methods that you think is the best. Second language acquisition is when a child or adult has already become competent at a language and then attempts to learn another. The goal of learning language is for communication and exchanging message. There are numerous of methods have been used to teach a second language: direct method, communicative method, (indirect) grammar-translated method, reading method and audio-lingual (audio-visual) method, etc. Normally, teacher does not use one single method, although he/she may have a leaning towards certain aspects of particular one. He/She may use a combination of methods, in order to successfully achieve the goal. For the direct method, it is also known as Natural/ Phonetical method. It is based on the belief that knowing a language for speaking purpose. Writing, printed note or word and learning of grammar are avoided because they hinder the acquisition of good oral proficiency. But it is not the real case. Rejecting printed word; focusing only on oral aspect of language would resist the development of other language skill. A good language learner should acquaint oneself with writing, reading, listening and speaking all four skills. And the communicative method, it is quite similar to the direct method. It also focuses on language as a medium of communication. But it is more systematical and not limited to the practice of oral skills, but all four-skills area. In fact, it recognizes that disregard of grammatical form... ... others fluently. Direct method is the best to use for putting the learner of a forward progress. All kinds of teaching methods should all have their strength and weakness. They are invented to suit to use in the period of time. But gradually, disadvantages are discovered. There is never a method that should not be applied; it can really help learners to learn the second language. Never just to blame for the teaching method and the fault’s of the teacher, if it is unsuccessful to learn a language. Student’s attitudes towards language should also be positive, patient, eager to learn and not to be shy of making mistakes. Learning from mistakes is a precious experience of learning. With a combination of suitable teaching method, good teacher and correct attitudes towards learning a language is the only way to get succeed in any second language acquisition.
Thursday, October 24, 2019
Criteria for Performance Evaluation Essay -- Human Resource Management
Introduction Human resource policies and procedures are the most important aspects of developing acceptable organizational behavior in an organization. This is because mutual well-being, confidence, trust, and intelligence of all members of the organization determines the success of the organization hence the need to pay critical attention to it. The mid-sized manufacturing plant’s engineer hired for the modification of the plant had positive job performance credentials but poor interpersonal relations and tidiness at work place. This situation put the plant manager in a difficult position when it came to developing a well outline assessment of the engineer. Criteria for Performance Evaluation The three sets of performance evaluation mechanisms that brought concerns for the manager and the employee in the current evaluation structure included poor relationships with co-workers, personal characteristics, and behavior. These points of concern were particularly causing friction between the manager since the employee maintained that his performance was above reproach and produced results. However, despite the engineer’s concerns, the three most commonly used assessment criteria are behavior, performance standards, and skills and competency (Mayhew, 2010). Skills and competency refer to the solid technical knowledge an employee applies in accomplishing tasks. The ability to perform tasks for which one was hired and to meet organizational objectives set for him is fundamental in performance evaluation. Performance standards refer to what an employee must do to meet the manager’s expectations and normally include how proactive an employee is in handling his wo rk (Mayhew, 2010). The behavior of an employee is crucial bec... ...the use of external mechanisms on specific roles played by different employees. External evaluators minimize the impact of biases; promote strict professionalism and promotion of assessment by members of a similar profession, as well as the promotion of employee confidence in the organizations intentions. Works Cited Anonymous. (2009). Performance Appraisal Biases. Retrieved May 30, 2012, from Management Study Guide: http://managementstudyguide.com/performance-appraisal-bias.htm Kelchner, L., & Media, D. (2011). Three Common Performance Evaluation Methods. Retrieved May 30, 2012, from Small Business: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/three-common-performance-evaluation-methods-23608.html Mayhew, R. (2010). Job Performance Evaluation Criteria. Retrieved May 30, 2012, from e-How Money: http://www.ehow.com/info_8083608_job-performance-evaluation-criteria.html Criteria for Performance Evaluation Essay -- Human Resource Management Introduction Human resource policies and procedures are the most important aspects of developing acceptable organizational behavior in an organization. This is because mutual well-being, confidence, trust, and intelligence of all members of the organization determines the success of the organization hence the need to pay critical attention to it. The mid-sized manufacturing plant’s engineer hired for the modification of the plant had positive job performance credentials but poor interpersonal relations and tidiness at work place. This situation put the plant manager in a difficult position when it came to developing a well outline assessment of the engineer. Criteria for Performance Evaluation The three sets of performance evaluation mechanisms that brought concerns for the manager and the employee in the current evaluation structure included poor relationships with co-workers, personal characteristics, and behavior. These points of concern were particularly causing friction between the manager since the employee maintained that his performance was above reproach and produced results. However, despite the engineer’s concerns, the three most commonly used assessment criteria are behavior, performance standards, and skills and competency (Mayhew, 2010). Skills and competency refer to the solid technical knowledge an employee applies in accomplishing tasks. The ability to perform tasks for which one was hired and to meet organizational objectives set for him is fundamental in performance evaluation. Performance standards refer to what an employee must do to meet the manager’s expectations and normally include how proactive an employee is in handling his wo rk (Mayhew, 2010). The behavior of an employee is crucial bec... ...the use of external mechanisms on specific roles played by different employees. External evaluators minimize the impact of biases; promote strict professionalism and promotion of assessment by members of a similar profession, as well as the promotion of employee confidence in the organizations intentions. Works Cited Anonymous. (2009). Performance Appraisal Biases. Retrieved May 30, 2012, from Management Study Guide: http://managementstudyguide.com/performance-appraisal-bias.htm Kelchner, L., & Media, D. (2011). Three Common Performance Evaluation Methods. Retrieved May 30, 2012, from Small Business: http://smallbusiness.chron.com/three-common-performance-evaluation-methods-23608.html Mayhew, R. (2010). Job Performance Evaluation Criteria. Retrieved May 30, 2012, from e-How Money: http://www.ehow.com/info_8083608_job-performance-evaluation-criteria.html
Wednesday, October 23, 2019
Bertrand Russell: The Value Of Philosophy
Consider a man that looks to material needs as the necessities of life. He moves through his world in a twenty-four hour cycle of the mundane, never reaching for a less ignorant existence. Bertrand Russell believes that these â€Å"practical men†, as society deems them, are wrongly named. A meaningful life to this â€Å"practical man†, certainly does not include the understanding of a need for knowledge. Russell states, â€Å"It is exclusively among the goods of the mind that the value of philosophy is to be found; and only those who are not indifferent to these goods can be persuaded that the study of philosophy is not a waste of time†(page 9). The value of philosophy can be found when anyone chooses to step over the line between things and ideas. I am claiming, in this instance, that philosophy is valuable for being a source of knowledge and understanding, among other things. Those that attempt to gain these are in turn going to benefit from their efforts. A man does not necessarily need the ability to comprehend the entire universe, but just to be open to thought. In the past, men that worked towards this task of thinking, such as Newton, were able to take philosophy and evolve it into a separate science. This reasons that philosophy’s value is largely in the possibility of a greater enlightenment that has yet to be determined. There is value in the fact that a deeper reality exists. That life does not just run blindly through time, but streams around reason and thought. Knowledge should alone be enough of a value for philosophy to be an appreciated source of gaining exactly that end. Thomas Nagel writes, â€Å"†¦humans have the special capacity to step back and survey themselves, and the lives to which they are committed†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (page 23). This realization is one of the reasons that philosophy contains value for the society at large. Everyone, through examining and doubting their choices, can gain knowledge. And knowledge is the primary aim of philosophy, according to Russell and my own opinion. Socrates summarizes it best in Plato’s, Apology: Defense of Socrates, when he stated, â€Å"†¦an unexamined life is no life for a human being to live†¦Ã¢â‚¬ (page 40). Humans were given the capacity to have thought processes and go beyond the routine existence of lower level life forms. To let this possession go unused would be neglecting the possibilities of the mind. However, the value of philosophy for society at large is limited by self-assertion. The masses will find themselves looking for knowledge but being blocked by the view that the world is of less worth than themselves, or the Self. This will be the downfall of the instinctive man; he is contained in his private interests. It is almost like a trap, man fills his life with family and friends and believes that he has found his place in life. A true student of philosophy will have a want of knowledge that is free and pure. This want contains no concerns of Self, but rather of the not-Self. Knowledge arrives when man lets go of trying to fit the universe into his world and instead fits his world into the universe. In order to be a philosopher, one must overcome the narrow circle of the Self and of private interests. Therefore the largest value of philosophy is for the philosopher, for he is able to completely be open to the acquisition of knowledge. Most of the value of philosophy is then sent indirectly to the larger society. The fact that philosophy, as a subject, is prone to uncertainty can arouse disbelief in its value. It can be argued that no knowledge can possibly be gained by studying a field in which there are no definite answers. Russell agrees with this point when he maintains that even if answers are determined, none of them can be proven true without exception. The subjective areas of thought, those dealing with opinions and differences in beliefs and practices, would hold no basis in practicality. â€Å"Practical man†will continue to waste away in his secluded reality, convinced that being materialistic is the most important quality to possess. Russell himself mentions, â€Å"†¦many men, under the influence of science or practical affairs, are inclined to doubt whether philosophy is nything better than innocent but useless trifling, †¦and controversies on matters concerning which knowledge is impossible†(page 9). However, Russell contradicts his own statements on purpose with the idea that people have the wrong view of philosophy. The uncertainty in philosophy is what makes the subject intriguing and worth arguing for or against. So what if there are no definite answers? The process of coming to the conclusion that nothing is set in stone is where the knowledge lies in wait to be learned. The questions of life make for intellectual freedom in the search for the unfound answers. Philosophic contemplation best works when the desire for knowledge is unadulterated. This would then deal mainly with the area of the not-Self; it must be in union with the Self to create the right environment for the intellect. Russell helps to confirm my statement that knowledge is the value of philosophy when he writes, â€Å"†¦free intellect will see†¦without traditional prejudices†¦in the sole and exclusive desire of knowledge-knowledge as impersonal, as purely contemplative, as it is possible for man to attain†(page 11). J. J. C. Smart believes that we should never assume that we have found the ultimate and final truth about anything. But that having a condensed view will bring us closer than not pondering it at all. Then, any attempt to push beyond that line between things and thought will create a positive end. Knowledge, the total range of what has been perceived and learned, is the absolute value of philosophy in my opinion. Philosophers, as well as man, can only benefit from the scrutiny placed on thought. Without the knowledge that philosophy can provide, the world would be a very simple place based exclusively on materialistic views. The old saying that ignorance is bliss would unmistakably be true. Man would continue in his everyday life, unaware of the chance that he is missing. Think about what a waste such a world would be, when the possibility for undiminished intelligence and open mentality is right beyond the baggage that man carries around with him. Philosophy’s value in knowledge is that it makes man’s life worth not just surviving but truly living.
Tuesday, October 22, 2019
Compare And Contrast Krapps Last Tape and Death And The Kings Horseman
Compare And Contrast Krapps Last Tape and Death And The Kings Horseman This paper compares and contrasts several elements of the two plays, Krapps Last Tape and Death and The Kings Horseman. The elements which will be compared and contrasted are basic introduction of each play, characters, styles and themes. The following paragraphs will talk about the mentioned elements in detail in order to provide a better comprehension of the main focus of this paper.IntroductionTo start off with Krapps Last Tape, the central character Krapp has a firm belief that he has the ability to bring transition in the world by the help of his art. This may define the main character a bit, but this is not the central point of the play and instead the main attention is given to the prospect that how this belief of Krapp turned into something depressive and awful. Eventually Krapp discovers that it is not possible to change this world and therefore his art work will not put any positive impact on this world.Wole SoyinkaBeckett, the author, has presented an ironic piece by showi ng how Krapp devastates his time by owning such an excessive vision of changing the world. This play consists of simply one character and his dreams as being an artist and as someone who wants to do something fruitful for the world. Krapp signifies all those people who want to benefit other people, and are passionate about accomplishing their goals. Different people will have different opinion about the play and some may even think of Krapp as being an over dramatic character (“Krapp's Last Tape: IntroductionÂâ€).Among the many plays written by Wole Soyinka, Death and the Kings Horseman are thought by majority of the people as Soyinkas best play. Soyinka was highly acclaimed for the way he blended Yoruban and European culture in form of poetic drama...
Monday, October 21, 2019
Societys Cave essays
Society's Cave essays No matter who you ask, Hobbes, Locke, Rousseau or any other great philosopher they will always tell you that Plato was and always will be the greatest philosopher. Plato is known for great thoughts and feeling about the government and the way their social and political issues are handled. He used a very effective and intelligent way of writing his thoughts. He used a technique of exoteric and esoteric writing. The exoteric level being a level that everyone could understand and the esoteric level was only comprehended by the intelligent. By doing this he protected himself from the government. He learned from Socrates whose life was ended when the government had enough of his ridicule and rebellions. Plato was much smarter and got his point across without the government ever knowing. For example, Platos "Allegory of the Cave" from The Republic, which was a childrens story about a cave, but it also had a esoteric meaning that was letting the intelligent know what the government was doin g. Platos technique has been effectively repeat many times and his messages apply to many of the current issues in todays society. The exoteric level of the story, which comprehended by most, is about an underground cave which is pitch black except for a dim fire. There are some men bound by the neck and ankles, totally restricting movement, in the bottom of the cave. They have been faced towards the wall of the cave and all they can see is the flickering light from the fire behind them. Occasionally they can see the faint shadows of other men standing in front of the fire. The men can also hear their voices echo off the wall which they are facing. The sounds and visions that the men hear and see are both false, they are not the actual thing. The echoes are reflecting off the wall as well as the shadows that they are seeing. One man finally breaks free and makes his way up the cave, it is a hard and long climb but he makes it out. ...
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