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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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LAPD Command Staff Directive = F-You Beachgoers. Be A Victim Because We Won’t Respond To The Sand.

I live in Los Angeles in the area patrolled by LAPD Pacific Division known as Venice Beach.

Here are a few things I have learned from living here…

Venice is supposedly the 2nd largest tourist attraction in southern California after Disneyland. One of the two has a budget. I’ll let you guess.

Of the entire Pacific Division area which includes Mar Vista, Del Rey, Playa del Rey, Palms, Marina Del Rey, Westchester…. jam all those neighborhoods together and guess where the majority of the crime happens? VENICE BEACH. So, of the whole division, Venice is the focal point that drives the majority of the crime stats for the entire area. Great. We’ll come back to that.

Like other divisions of the LAPD, our police officers drive cruisers. Unlike other divisions, some of ours are specially designed to drive on the sand. Quick reminder: “the sand” includes that special area known as “the beach” where all that crime happens.

Here’s another Fun Fact: People in cars are known to get into car accidents. Police sometimes get into car accidents. Luckily, when the police get into an accident in a City car, the LAPD doesn’t put an end to them driving cars anymore. BUT, in Venice last year officers ran over a person laying in the sand. (She wasn’t hurt badly at all, and she refused medical treatment after an initial assessment.) But after that event a member of the command staff immediately stopped our officers from driving on the sand “until they evaluated and assessed the situation and determined if more training was needed”.

Now, that wasn’t the first time LAPD has run over someone in the sand. I’m not going to get into the details, but based on perspective, line of sight, and a material that gives the visual illusion of looking the same despite vast irregularities in the terrain…. it is an easy thing to do. It is just a byproduct of sand being sand which can hide a person laying down completely from just a few feet away. That characteristic doesn’t just apply to LAPD officers…it applies to everyone.

Also, LAPD is not the only city or county agency that drives on the sand. Beaches & Harbors, Lifeguards, Sanitation, Rec & Parks, lots of agencies drive on the sand. Guess what, every agency has run over someone laying in the sand. Sometimes its not so bad, sometimes its REALLY BAD. It has happened in the past. It will happen in the future. Similarly, people who drive cars …. anywhere … tend to get into accidents too. So its safe to say that if you are driving a car, and are a police officer or not… accidents are going to happen. Not because of a lack of training or gross negligence or whatever… it’s just people + cars = accidents. Its true. Look it up.

But lets get back to the beach.

When word got out last fall that LAPD wasn’t going to drive on the sand… guess where all the robbers, burglars, thieves and scoundrels went after committing a crime? Yep. The sand. At first LAPD would call lifeguards to drive them out to meet a victim or go after a suspect… but then the FD was like F that – why should we be put in harms way when that isn’t our job, its the po-lice job. Then for every crime including ADW, people brandishing guns where the perps ran to the sand… LAPD would call an airship… which would only respond if available and if able. That also takes time…. the whole thing was a mess… so the cops just gave up on the whole thing, and only went on the sand to walk someone that was easy to put in custody back up to the beach… which is still pretty time consuming. Supposedly if there was some “crazy circumstance” that required officers to drive on the sand… a supervisor could run it up the flagpole for approval. But nobody is going to request that because (A) it is stupid (B) colossal waste of time (C) it isn’t remotely practical and (D) why ask to do something that if it happens for any reason to go sideways … your ass is going to get tagged with the blame. So whats easier? Just do nothing. Check.

Heres another thing about “the sand”. Ever been down to the beach during the summer? People aren’t dispersed in equi-distant squares each occupying a specified space… they are jam packed all over the sand. Lots of em. People. You know… the ones that both commit and are victims of that stuff called crime that happens a lot in that super popular area called Venice Beach.

Well, two weeks ago I heard now that it is summer and a decision needs to be made about driving on the sand… that the same command staff genius waved his mighty badge and hath set forth that the decision is that LAPD will never drive on the sand again.

Yep. That’s right people. “The Sand” … that giant area of City of Los Angeles property that encompasses 4 RD areas will no longer be patrolled by, or accessed by the Los Angeles Police Department by a vehicle. So, if you are a victim of a crime on the sand, which happens a hell of a lot more often that a person getting run over by any agency vehicle on the sand… I guess you can just go suck it because LAPD isn’t going to respond.

I can’t imagine a scenario where LAPD would tell the officers of a Division “Hey, RD 1402…. don’t drive there, patrol there or respond to calls for service there. Just… I dunno… figure something else out. ” I’m pretty sure that would never fly, but that is exactly what has just happened in Venice Beach.

This whole area… which is only accessible in any reasonable fashion by first responders or in an urgent situation via specialized vehicle, which LAPD has and has used like all the other agencies for decades… eh…. I guess people who are victims of crime can… go to the station and make a report? Or maybe call the front desk and wait for it to ring and ring and ring before someone picks up the receiver and hangs up. Is that effective police tactics? Is that what you would expect to be told as a victim? Well what do you think is going to happen when every cracked out bike stealing person with bad intentions learns if they haven’t already that LAPD won’t patrol on the sand at all.. so go ahead and rob somebody at knifepoint there because the cops won’t show up and you’ll probably get away with it. A lot.

Here’s something else you learn about the beach when you live here for a while. One of the most common crimes is drinking in public on the sand. TONS of people do it. You probably have. LAPD officers cruise the jam packed sand, and stop in a nice visible spot of thousands of people and take time dumping out the booze of people drinking on the sand for all to see, and write them a ticket. You know what that does? It actually stops or slows down a lot of other people doing the same thing. And what does that do?

After a long hot day in the sun… a lot of people are a lot less drunk when they leave the beach. They get into less fights. There is less drunk driving….less bad decision making and the amount of crime that doesn’t happen as a byproduct of everyone getting wasted on the sand all day is actually really significant.

BUT NOT ANYMORE!

So neighbors who walk along the sand in the morning, joggers that zip down to the beach for a run along the ocean…every other sucker who decides to pay a visit to the 2nd largest tourist attraction next to Disneyland…. enjoy you visit to Venice Beach this year…. see you on the crime stat sheet.

Took the area of the sand that LAPD used to patrol by vehicle and overlaid the exact area over other areas of the division. Would it be acceptable to have LAPD not patrol those areas at all?

Chick who was run over by LAPD and refused medical attention after being evaluated by FD at scene.

Source: http://venice311.org/2018/06/03/lapd-command-staff-directive-f-you-beachgoers-be-a-victim-because-we-wont-respond-to-the-sand/

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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THE ANGELENO’S GUIDE TO MEXICO CITY

If you were to ask me what my favorite city in the world was – besides, LA, of course – Mexico City would be somewhere in my top 3 choices. I have always loved visiting Mexico, but Mexico City is on a whole other level of culture, fun, and beauty. The Mexico most of us are familiar with are the typical beachside towns, where you hardly even get to experience the actual towns outside what ever resort you might be enjoying. Mexico City is bustling, it’s sprawling, it’s eclectic and its popularity amongst travelers only seems to be growing. It may be another big city – in fact, it’s the largest city in the world – but there is absolutely no where on earth quite like it in my opinion.

I cannot tell you how many friends I have that unanimously didn’t just enjoy Mexico City, they loved it. Friends of all types from all backgrounds. I honestly thought that there was absolutely no way this city could possibly live up to all of these insane expectations, but alas, they did. And then some. I am not a paid Visit Mexico spokesperson, but I will say with complete confidence that if you go to Mexico City – and you do it right – you will without a doubt fall in love. (And it wont even cost you that much!)

I did my fair share of research before my recent trip to Mexico City, I have had several friends go before me who gave me the full rundown. If you’re looking to visit Mexico City soon, here’s what you need to know:

EAT

Contramar

Arguably my personal favorite restaurant we went to in Mexico City – a very likely story it turns out. Contramar is known for its incredible seafood spread (think ceviche, fresh grilled fish, etc) and their primo people watching scene at lunch time. You cannot visit Mexico City and not go to Contramar – I demand it. Make sure you make a reservation and make sure you order the tuna tostadas!

Máximo Bistro

Another restaurant that came highly recommended was Maximo Bistro Local. They’re open for lunch and dinner and from what I’ve heard you’re fine either way you choose. I happened to go for lunch (couldn’t get a dinner reservation in time) and it was everything everyone said it would be. Did I know it had a lot of Italian influence, nope, did it make it that much more fun and interesting, yep. Their known for their ox tail gnocchi – split at your own risk because it really is that good.

Pujol

YES! I can now say I’ve been to one of the top restaurants in the world! Pujol is the crown jewel of Mexico City. Chef Enrique Olivera truly helped put Mexico City on the map in terms of the city being a desitination for distinct food and dining. So as you can imagine, Pujol is realatvely difficult to get into. Most people book quite far in advance. Sometimes you get lucky like we did but it’s definitely advised to book as far in advance as possible. Pujol is an absolutely stunning space, the experience is as you’d expect – different and incredibly special – the staff is out of this world, and it truly exemplifies and amplifies fine Mexican cuisine. I will say, Pujol is as expensive as you’d imagine it to be so come prepared for that.

Lorea

Lorea was our first dining experience in Mexico City and it completely set the tone for the rest of our trip. Mexico City is quickly becoming one of the top dining destinations in the world and restaurants like Lorea truly put it on the map in terms of fine dining. Fine dining in Mexico City is a trip though, Lorea for example offers a 14 course tasting menu at just $70 per person. If you’re a foodie traveling on a budget, your one splurge should be Lorea. You’ll never forget it.

Taqueria El Califa

Did someone say tacos? Finally? Yes. If you are in the mood for tacos and a sit down restaurant type of situation, El Califa is your destination. Not only is it your destination, it will also totally blow your mind. I think I ate about 8 tacos that night and I regret nothing. They are open all day long but their late night scene seems to be where it’s at. The one thing absolutely worth trying here are their “costras” – which are like tacos but the tortilla part is made of cheese… #mindblown. And I’ll just let you in on a little secret, the best tres leches cake I’ve ever had in my life is at Califa. It was also my favorite treat I had in Mexico City period – I said it!

La Capital

For Mexico City being a city of late diners, a lot of the restaurants close surprisingly early! La Capital was somewhat a happy accident while we were trying to find a restaurant open past 10pm, but it ended up being quite a number of our favorite restaurants in the end. La Capital is a great “happy medium” restaurant – it’s not too fancy, not too casual, but the food and the ambiance is absolutely fantastic. They offer truly incredible and what you’d think of as “authentic” Mexican food, so if that might what you’re looking for, you’ve found it.

El Moro Churreria

Is it really a trip to Mexico if you dont eat a churro? El Moro isn’t just any churreria though, it’s the OG of churrerias. They’ve been dusting delicious carb sticks with cinnamon and sugar since 1935, and today they have 9 locations all over the city. I visited the location at the Mercado Roma, which is a fun place to go for all kinds of things, it reminded me a lot of the Grand Central Market. But it’s better because… churros. Duh.

El Cardenal

This is the only restaurant on my list that I sadly did not have the time to go to but want to recommend regardless. I have a few friends who cannot visit Mexico City without having a traditional Mexican breakfast from El Cardenal. When I requested something that had some history, something that had stood the test of time and was still beloved by all, El Cardenal was always the answer. I cant wait to go myself on my next trip, but if a big Mexican breakfast speaks to you, white table cloths and all, please try El Cardenal (and tell me what you think!).

OTHER RECS: Yuban, Lardo, Rosetta, Zoku, Lalo!, Quintonil, Casa Virgina, Tori Tori, La Docena, Huset, Mero Toro, Bravo Lonchería, Dulce Patria, Azul Historico,

DRINK

King Cole Bar

King Cole Bar to my delight was located inside of our hotel, the St Regis. Much like its New York City counterpart, the King Cole Bar is an absolutely stunning work of beauty, style, and class. We were at this bar more than I’d like to recount – shout out to Alejandro and Pepe – but it’s because it was consistently fantastic. Definitely the local meeting place for big timers, I fit right in obviously, but not at all intimidating or unwelcoming. The opposite in fact. Ain’t nothing wrong with a classy joint here and there, especially one with indoor/outdoor seating, great cocktails, live music, and decor fit for royalty.

La Azotea De Barrio Alameda

This place was recommended to me by a new friend on Instagram who’d been kind enough to message me her Mexico City favorites. She lives there after all so she was definitely one to be trusted. La Azotea is located in Centro, and is just a 5 minute walk from big sites to see such as the Palacio de Bellas Artes. Climb about 100 steps (which is like 300 steps at sea level) to the rooftop to find an absolute GEM of a little hangout – fresh air, views, cocktails, delicious food, friendly faces and all. My friend instructed me to order a Carajillo and if you’re like me and love a good espresso martini when desperate times call for desperate measures… then you are going to love a Carajillo.

Fifty Mils Four Seasons

If you thought the King Cole Bar at the St Regis sounded bougie, Fifty Mils at the Four Seasons might have them beat there. Between the absolutely stunning courtyard setting, the fancy “a-la Four Seasons” cocktails, and the fitted waitstaff, it’s definitely an experience. And I was so here for a bougie moment – and a solid Instagram post of course.

Condesa DF

Who doesnt love a good rooftop situation right? Located in the heart of Condesa, CodesaDF is one of the areas most popular boutique hotels. Their rooftop is open to the public and definitely caters towards the young more hip crowds. So naturally I went, and naturally I loved it. If it’s a nice day or night out, stop in – it’s usually open.

Hanky Panky

Per my previous confession about basically never leaving the King Cole Bar… I dissappointingly did not make it to a number of bars I had intended to visit. Hanky Panky being one of them. I cannot speak from personal experience but I can say with quite a bit of confidence that this bar IS an experience. First off, you have to have a reservation – it’s that kind of bar. Secondly, it’s a speakeasy. Lastly, it sounds so “LA” it hurts my feelings I cannot wait to come back and see what this place is up to.

La Clandestina

I am a huge fan of Mezcal, in fact it is easily my spirit of choice. La Clandestina was another bar that came highly recommended that I regrettably did not get to, but I am told if you too are a fan of Mezcal then this is one place on earth you need to experience to confirm your appreciation for the beverage.

Loup Bar

For my fellow wine lovers… meet Loup Bar. Loup Bar is known for their incredible list of natural wines, as well as for their great food menu to pair. You know I will travel for wine and food, so Loup came highly recommended by several friends; I love that this a more low key yet chic spot. A great place to go when you’d love a glass of wine with a side of warm and cozy ambiance.

OTHER RECS: El Bosforo, La Lavanderia, Limantour, Pata Negra, Cicatriz, Gin Gin, Felina Bar, Aurora, Xaman, Baltro, La Ópera,

Lucha Libre

What about men in fringe, tight pants, and colorful masks doesn’t already sound appetizing as hell? Throw in spotlights, a hugely enthusiastic crowd, cheap cold beer, tacos, and you’ve got yourself a night at LUCHA LIBRE! I am not kidding you when I say Friday night Lucha Libre was my favorite part of the entire trip, and arguably one of the best nights of my whole life. Take that and do what you will.

Xochimilco

I honestly barley know how to begin trying to explain the experience that is Xochimilco. It’s hands down one of the wildest, strangest, most unique experiences I think I’ve had in all my 30 years. What I want to say wont really make sense, but Xohchimilco doesn’t really make sense either, so here goes nothing. Xochimilco is a place you go *with a group* to float down canals on very colorful gondolas that are all packed like sardines on the water where there is zero traffic regulation, there is a lot of booze, there are mariachis on boats for hire, delicious food and trinkets on boats for buying, and a lot of other strange yet entertaining activity. Here’s the deal. It was cool… but it was wild. If you’ve got kids, or if you’re just a couple without a guide, I actually would not recommend Xochimilco. But if you’ve got a group, or a friend/trusted individual who knows the ropes, DO IT. Be careful, I would personally hire a driver to get you there and back (it’s about 45 minutes outside the city center), don’t be an idiot and you’ll have an absolute blast.

Chapultapec Park

Unsurprisingly so, Chapultapec Park is one of the largest city parks in the world. Really though – this park is never ending and it’s absolutely GORGEOUS! Chapultapec Park is very central, and the best of what it has to offer – including the Chapultapec Castle and the Museum of Anthropology – are very easy to access. Besides museums and the castle, Chapultapec Park includes a zoo, botanical gardens, walking trails, vendors, several man-made lakes with pedal boats, and so much more. You could spend a whole day strolling through these gorgeous grounds, and so you should – with some stops along the way.

Castillo de Chapultapec

One of those stops should definitely be the stunning site that was once the home to Mexico’s one-time emperor, Maximilian. Chapultapec Castle, now the Natural Museum of History, overlooks the entire city below and it’s an absolutely fascinating and beautiful place to visit. It’ll take you a minute to hike up the hillside, and you will run out of breath thanks to that altitude, but boy is it worth it! (It’s also not literally a hike, it’s a walk uphill, it just seems to go on for forever when you’re out of breath.)

Museo Nacional de Antropología

If you have an interest in learning about the history of pre-hispanic Mexico (Aztec, Mayan, etc) the Museo Anthropolgia is an absolute must. We spent hours walking through each time period if you will, looking at pieces of history you can hardly fathom being as ancient and beautiful as they are. This was one of my personal favorite parts of the trip, so if you have time on your walk through the Chapultapec Park, stop in at the museum.

Mercado de Artesanías la Ciudadela

There are a couple of amazing Mercados to visit in Mexico City, but the one we ended up visiting was Mercado de Artesanías la Ciudadela – a market known for it’s more locally crafted and more traditional goods. They offer all kinds of Oaxacan textiles, blankets, silver, jewelry, bags, leather, housewares – anything “Mexico” you can think of they have. I have to admit, I typically hate the idea of “things” or “trinkets” but this market was incredible! I ended up with some beautifully embroidered bags, and so wished I’d had enough room in my suitcase for some of the glassware and housewares. Next trip.

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Whilst meandering through Historico Centro you will find it damn near impossible not to run into the massive architectural masterpiece that is the Palacio de Bellas Artes. It’s here inside the marbles walls that you will find gorgeous and expansive murals from several artists including Diego Rivera, David Alfaro Siqueiros, and Rufino Tamayo. Wether it’s a new exhibit, a concert, or an event, there is always something fun and interesting happening here.

Teotihuacan

Want to see those mysterious pyramids you learned about at the Museo Anthropolgia IRL? You can! Teotihuacan is admittedly a pretty far drive outside the city center (about an hour), but it’s another absolute “must” according to most if not all who have visited. This was another spot I didn’t personally make it out to this trip, but I am told it’s worth noting to go early in the morning while the sun isn’t too hot and the tourists are at a minimum.

Museo Frida Kahlo

The Frida Kahlo Museum is kind of a non-negotiable. It’s a completely one-of-a-kind experience, and I promise you will be glad and grateful to have gone. The Frida Kahlo Museum, aka Casa Azul, was Frida’s beloved home for twenty years. Located in the colorful and charming neighborhood of Coyoacan, you immediately get a sense of the appeal. When Frida passed away, Diego Rivera donated her house to the government and turned it into a museum. The home has been in the exact condition she left it in since the 50’s, and it’s a surreal thing to experience in person. I personally loved seeing her clothes that were put on display (that were just discovered in an untouched room in 2004!), and how so many designers today are still inspired by her stunning style.

OTHER RECS: Museo Soumaya, Museo Tamayo, Museo Franz Mayer, Palacio Nacional, Museo Jumex, Casa Barragan, Museo del Tequila y Mezcal,

STAY

St. Regis

Just going to call it like it is, the St Regis Mexico City is the best hotel I’ve ever stayed at. The truth is I probably wouldn’t be able to afford a stay at a St Regis in most cities, but in Mexico City rates at this property start as low as $269 a night. For the St Regis. If you want to do a bougie hotel stay, with unparalleled service and accommodations, stay with the St Regis.

Hotel La Valise

Hotel La Valise is THE hip/chic/expensive spot to stay in Mexico City. They have a very popular property in Tulum as well, and their Mexico City location is just as stunning. It’s also located in a great part of town that is accessible to fun restaurants and areas to walk.

Hotel Condesa DF

Hotel Condesa DF is one of the best boutique hotels is one of the best parts of town – Condesa. I have had a few friends stay here who loved it, plus their rooftop – as mentioned – was one of my favorite stops on the trip.

Four Seasons

The Four Seasons Mexico City has a similar story to the St Regis; if you want to do a bougie stay, this is another great option to consider. Especially if like me, there’s no way in hell you’d be able to afford a Four Seasons vacation anywhere else. Why not do it in Mexico City!

OTHER RECS: Hotel Carlota, Four Points Roma, Roma MX, Hippodrome, Downtown Mexico, Casa Nuevo 120, Los Alcobas, Hotel Habita, Camino Real

TIPS

consider taking a street food tour! I’m actually quite sad I didn’t go on one myself, as the street food was the one thing I feel like I missed out on, but you’ve gotta have something to go back for right? My friends recommended this one to me: Club Tengo Hambre

prepare for the high altitude. Mexico City is about 7500 ft above sea level, and it can affect you if you’re not used to it like most us Angelenos!

take Ubers! For convenience, safety and reliability reasons.

get money from a bank ATM for a lower exchange rate. Most people/places will take American dollars, but try not to use them if you can avoid it. Pesos or credit cards are definitely best.

if you plan on visiting the Frida Kahlo museum and you want to take photos, be sure to purchase a photo pass in the coat check room! This is not advertised, but it’s available and it is affordable. Als0 – buy your tickets online ahead of time, save yourself the time you’d have to wait in line.

there are two airports in Mexico City, make sure you remember that when scheduling your flights and pickups/dropoffs

getting reservations at the popular Mexico City restaurants like Pujol, Maximo Bistro, Quintonil, Contramar, Rosetta, etc are difficult on short notice. Try to book the ones you really want to go to as far in advance as possible. This can be done directly on their respective websites, and you have the option to waitlist should your first choice not be immediately available.

lastly… don’t try to do too much. Pick 1-2 “must-see’s” a day, let the rest fall into place, and enjoy yourself!

Source: http://loveandloathingla.com/2018/10/angelenos-guide-mexico-city/

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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Fashion in the news: is “ethical consumer” an oxymoron?

Every week, FashionUnited selects the most interesting reads about the fashion industry published across US and international news outlets. Here’s what you may have missed:

Is there such a thing as “ethical consumerism”?

We hear it time and again: young consumers are increasingly taking social and environmental issues into account when shopping. In a recent survey conducted in Europe, 1 in 3 consumers said brands should be more transparent about what they are doing to fight climate change and global poverty. In another study by the Changing Markets Foundation, published last month, 51 percent of Americans said they would be put off from buying products from brands which do not provide workers a fair living wage. Even more surveyors (57 percent) said they’d be willing to pay more for clothes only to guarantee everyone across the supply earns a decent living.

However, were 51 percent of Americans actually boycotting brands on that basis, the fashion industry would certainly be moving a lot faster to change its ways. Clearly, they are not. Not only because talk is cheap (who would want to look bad by telling a researcher they don’t care about poverty and the environment?) but mainly because shopping ethically is easier said than done, as beautifully pointed out by Maya Singer on Vogue Magazine this week.

Those interested in “protesting with their wallets” encounter a plethora of obstacles and tricky decisions. “Do I buy one brand’s shoe made entirely from sea garbage, but in a sweatshop in Southeast Asia? Or do I buy from a brand with no environmental commitments, that produces in a unionized factory here in the USA? What if the brand that produces domestically is led by a CEO with #MeToo complaints? Another hypothetical: let’s say I’ve discovered the ethically perfect running shoe. It costs $800, there’s a six-month waiting list to get a pair, they come in one color, which is crap brown, and oh, by the way, I have to buy without trying them on”, writes Singer. At the end of the day, no matter how ethical shoppers would like to be, they are looking for products which serve a given purpose for a price they can afford. Ethics will always come after practicality in price. But Singer believes there is still hope. Click on the link above to read her article in full and find out why.

The environmental cost of free returns

When a piece of clothing bought online doesn’t fit or the color looks different than the one on screen, many consumers think it’s only fair for the shop to cover the return costs. After all, they can’t see the product in person before committing to the purchase. That is why free shipping and free returns are two excellent strategies to increase sales and consumer loyalty. However, a recent survey revealed 40 percent of all online purchases are returned, as many consumers buy several sizes of the same product just to see which one fits. Some even buy clothes with the specific aim to take a picture for Instagram and then return them!

This week, Fast Company highlighted that free returns have a high environmental impact, as they generate more transportation of goods back and forth, which means increased greenhouse emissions. Read the article in full here.

Would more women in fashion power positions mean more female customers?

A recent study pointed out that women are far less likely to be promoted in the fashion industry. Only 40 percent of womenswear fashion brands are designed by women and only 14 percent of the 50 major fashion brands are run by women. Forbes contributor Pamela Danziger asks: what would happen if womenswear companies would bring more women into leadership and decision-making positions? Several studies point out such a change would bring extremely positive results. Read it here.

Data analytics are reshaping the fashion industry

Vogue’s new business-focused platform, Vogue Business, has published an interesting piece about the use of data in fashion retail. How can it help brands to increase sales? What are its pros, cons and limitations? As a bonus, the publication lists 6 useful trend-tracking tools.

Want to stay up to date about the latest developments in the fashion industry? Sign up for FashionUnited’s newsletter!

Picture: Pixabay

Source: https://fashionunited.com/news/fashion/fashion-in-the-news-is-ethical-consumer-an-oxymoron/2019020826028

#read more #see more #check it out #interesting #learn more

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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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Swiss – $423: Los Angeles – Moscow, Russia. Roundtrip, including all Taxes

This site is part of an affiliate sales network and receives compensation for sending traffic to partner sites, such as CreditCards.com. This compensation may impact how and where links appear on this site. This site does not include all financial companies or all available financial offers.

A good sale to Moscow.

ITA will price this at about $441, but when you use those dates and buy on Swiss, it will reprice to about $423.

Getting a Russian visa can take a bit of time – please factor that in when you are considering this deal.

Here are some practical travel tips to Moscow, Russia.

Sample Travel Date:

March 20th – 27th, 2019

This is just ONE SAMPLE travel date, for more availability, please follow the “Fare Availability” and “How to Search for Availability” instructions below

Fare Availability:

Valid for travel from January 2019 – March 2019 for Sunday through Wednesday departures and Tuesday through Friday returns. Availability is limited. Must purchase at least 7 days in advance of departure

Also available for travel from late April 2019 – May 2019 with the same restriction as above for an additional $11.

Please note that while this fare is valid at time of posting, if this post is more than two days old, the fare is likely gone.

How to Search for Availability:

This is just to search for availability. To buy your tickets, scroll down to “How to Buy” section of this post

The ITA search page should be like below when all values are inputted

You cannot buy tickets using ITA. To buy, follow our instructions in the “How to Buy” section below.

Fare Class:

Routing:

LAX – ZRH (Zurch) – DME (Moscow) – ZRH – LAX

Stopover:

Mileage:

Swiss is a member of the Star Alliance and United partner. Mileage earning with United is as follows:

Miles Flown: 14,570 miles or 2.9 cents per mile

Elite Qualifying Miles: 14,570 miles

Redeemable Miles: 7,285 miles

How to Buy:

Support us by using our Swiss link to book with dates found on ITA Software Matrix Airfare Search.

Accommodations

HotelsCombined - One of the leading hotel meta-search engines. Search all the hotel and online travel agencies with one search.

Car Rentals

Rental Cars - One of the world’s leading car rental agencies. Includes all the major brands like Hertz, Avis, Budget, Dollar, Enterprise etc.

Activities and Tours

Viator – The world's largest marketplace for destination activities and tours

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Source: https://www.theflightdeal.com/2018/11/05/swiss-423-los-angeles-moscow-russia-roundtrip-including-all-taxes/

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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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Vogue portrait of Beyoncé joins Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery

Dale Arden Chong

Wednesday, August 07 2019

Nearly one year ago, the now-24-year-old photographer Tyler Mitchell made history as the first African-American photographer to shoot a cover for Vogue magazine — and if that wasn’t iconic enough, the shoot features none other than Beyoncé.

Now, one of Mitchell’s portraits of the famed singer is joining the walls of the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. The photo features the musician wearing a Valentino gown covered in sequins and a Philip Treacy London headpiece.

The young photographer shared the news on his Instagram account with a caption that reads, “A year ago today we broke the flood gates open. Since then it was important to spend the whole year running through them making sure every piece of the gate was knocked down. And now I’m glad to share this picture is being acquired into the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery’s permanent collection.”

Source: https://fashionunited.com/news/culture/vogue-portrait-of-beyonce-joins-smithsonian-national-portrait-gallery/2019080729338

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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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Bellinger gets a day off as Dodgers open series in Arizona

PHOENIX (AP) -- Major league batting leader Cody Bellinger is sitting out the Los Angeles Dodgers' series opener against the Diamondbacks in Arizona.

Bellinger, who leads the majors with a .376 batting average with 20 home runs, is missing his third game of the season Monday to rest.

Bellinger has played in 58 of 60 games this season, having missed a game in April and May. Manager Dave Roberts said it's just normal day off given Bellinger's work load this season. He has a team-leading 210 at-bats and has played first base along with all three outfield positions.

Max Muncy is being held out of Monday's lineup for the same reason. Muncy's 197 at-bats are third-most on the team.

Roberts said he was ''trying to get ahead of Cody and Max, keeping them healthy.''

Roberts also noted that Bellinger and Muncy are left-handed hitters and the situation allows right-handed Kike Hernandez and David Freese, both with more at-bats and success against Diamondbacks lefty Robbie Ray, to see action.

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More AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB and https://twitter.com/AP-Sports

Source: https://sports.yahoo.com/bellinger-gets-day-off-dodgers-open-series-arizona-010652815--mlb.html?src=rss

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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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Edmonton Oilers select forward Raphael Lavoie 38th overall

After landing Philip Broberg last night with the 8th overall pick, we’re getting back to business this morning with some rapid-fire picks, starting with the Oilers choice with the 38th overall pick. With their second pick at the 2019 Draft, the Edmonton Oilers have selected forward Raphael Lavoie from the Halifax Mooseheads.

With the Oilers picking up another defenceman with their first selection, many expected that a forward would be the choice with their second round pick and that’s exactly what Ken Holland did with the Lavoie selection. For a team that is starved for offensive prospects, Raphael Lavoie is a very nice add for the Oilers to get with the 38th overall pick. As you’ll see in the rankings below, many had Lavoie listed as a potential first rounder and to have him slip into the early portion of the second round has to be considered a win for Edmonton. At 6’4″ and 198 pounds, Lavoie has the frame to play at the professional level and it will be very interesting to watch his progression in the years to come.

In 62 games played with the Mooseheads last season, Lavoie put up 32 goals and 41 assists for 73 points. Lavoie also led the QMJHL in playoff scoring this past season with 20 goals and 32 points in 23 games.

WHO IS RAPHAEL LAVOIE?

Oilers select Raphael Lavoie pic.twitter.com/GRecvry6h6

— Corey Pronman (@coreypronman) June 22, 2019

So who is Raphael Lavoie? That’s a good question, dear reader. To get the answers, I dove into the Internet machine to find out what I could about the young centreman the Oilers deemed worthy of the 38th overall pick:

From Elite Prospects:

A large and skilled player. Offensively, his release stands out which is very accurate and allows him to be a capable scorer. Furthermore, Lavoie reads the game fairly well and is good at distributing the puck.

From Bill Placzek, Draft Site

There are diverse opinions on how quickly this huge winger goes off the draft board because he is so dominating against the smaller QMJHL players he regularly plays against. There is no denying he seduces your opinion with his long reach and sneaky deceptive release of the puck that catches goalies off guard. Was added to the World Junior Summer Showcase as an injury replacement and played well when surrounded by really good teammates. At this juncture, he projects more as a right wing, and not a centre. He will have to radically improve his acceleration, foot speed, and pace to be thought capable of patrolling centre ice in higher levels.

From Ryan McKenna at Sportsnet:

Lavoie helped the host Mooseheads reach the Canadian major junior championship game where Halifax lost to the Rouyn-Noranda Huskies. He had two highlight-reel goals in the tournament – including one in the final – and an assist along with 17 shots on goal over four games.

His physical play was prevalent throughout the tournament as he used his big frame to create a good cycle in the corner and set up scoring opportunities for his teammates.

He says he’s at his best when he has the puck and is creating offensive chances.

“I think I’m pretty good when I’m doing that.”

Lavoie was streaky during his draft year and finished the regular season with 32 goals and 41 assists in 62 games.

But when it came to the playoffs, the right-handed shot picked up his game.

PRE-DRAFT RANKINGS

Ranked #19 by TSN/McKenzie

JUNIOR CAREER SO FAR

Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM +/- GP G A Pts PIM 2016-17 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 32 6 3 9 26 0 6 1 1 2 6 2017-18 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 68 30 33 63 43 10 9 3 2 5 5 2018-19 Halifax Mooseheads QMJHL 62 32 41 73 31 36 23 20 12 32 22

Odds Shark, your one-stop shop for picks, odds, betting news and trends – a resource for fans, bettors and media outlets looking for wagering info on all the sports and pop culture events you could want. Odds Shark is a proven powerhouse in the sports betting industry. We have odds from around the globe, giving you the opportunity to seek out the best sports betting information along with our recommendations for the best online sportsbooks on the planet. Fans and media outlets alike have access to decades of stats and trends from our easily accessible databases.

Source: https://oilersnation.com/2019/06/22/edmonton-oilers-select-forward-raphael-lavoie-38th-overall/

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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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Bankrupt Ditech looks to sell most of its mortgage business

The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in April

Thomas F. Marano, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer and President of Ditech Holding Corporation

The bankrupt nonbank lender Ditech Holding Corp. is looking to sell much of its mortgage business.

New York-based New Residential Investment Corp. made a bid in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to buy all of the forward assets of Ditech Financial, while Washington, D.C.-based Mortgage Assets Management made a bid to buy all of the assets and stock of the company’s reverse mortgage business.

Port Washington, Pennsylvania-based Ditech has been in serious financial trouble since 2017 when the company, then known as Walter Investment Management, filed for bankruptcy. It was able to emerge from bankruptcy — only to file for bankruptcy again in April.

New Residential is looking to purchase Ditech Financial’s forward Fannie Mae, Ginnie Mae and non-agency mortgage servicing rights. In total, the mortgages have an unpaid principal balance of about $63 billion as of March 31, according to a release.

Both of the bids are stalking horse bids, meaning that other companies have until July 8 to submit higher bids to the bankruptcy court to buy the assets.

The price of New Residential Investment Corp.’s offer has not yet been determined, according to the company. The final purchase price will be determined at the close of the deal, based on the tangible book value of the related assets, according to the release.

New Residential said if the bid goes through, it has agreed to take over Ditech’s office space and plans to make employment offers to a number of Ditech employees. Mortgage Assets Management has not disclosed what it plans to do with Ditech’s reverse mortgage business.

Source: https://therealdeal.com/national/2019/06/18/bankrupt-ditech-looks-to-sell-most-of-its-mortgage-business/

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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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Portland to host a trade show dedicated to sportswear

Robyn Turk

Tuesday, January 22 2019

Premiere Vision announce the launch of the Premiere Vision Sport Show - a trade show for sportswear offerings in the American market. Hosted in Portland, Oregon, the first Premiere Vision Sport Show is slated for August 14 through 15 of this year, running alongside The Materials Show.

With this new show, the organization takes note of the immense influence sportswear now has throughout the fashion industry. Premiere Vision launched a Sport & Tech sector during its Paris show last September to display the new creative offerings of high-performance and technical apparel materials.

The Premiere Vision Sport Show is now the next step in embracing the influence of athleticwear. The show is organized simultaneously and will be presented alongside American Events' The Materials Show, a leading show in the sports footwear material and component sourcing field.

Premiere Vision is calling the upcoming event the "Sportswear Silicon Valley." The partnership between The Sport Show and The Materials Show is intended to bring an exclusive fashion expertise to innovations in performance and active sports materials.

Source: https://fashionunited.com/news/fairs/portland-to-host-a-trade-show-dedicated-to-sportswear/2019012225737

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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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Rossoblu Returns to Action Tomorrow After Fire Damaged Kitchen in September

Rossoblu is back

After a kitchen fire took out Rossoblu’s operation for nearly the entire fall back on September 13, the Downtown Italian restaurant is finally ready to return tomorrow evening. Here’s what founders Steve and Dina Samson had to say about the temporary closure, which certainly lasted longer than they had originally thought:

We’re thrilled and grateful to be able to open our doors again; we didn’t expect this process to take so long as the fire was isolated in the flue. Thankfully no one was hurt and there was no major structural damage. It was just an arduous process to achieve the repair in a safe and sound manner. Most of our staff stayed with us through the process and we’re incredibly humbled by their dedication to our vision. We used this time wisely to reflect, reassess and renew. Our valued guests will soon experience some changes we made when they come to dine with us. Our heartfelt gratitude to everyone for their support, patience and kindness. We can’t wait to have everyone back in to Rossoblu!

With a busy season of restaurant openings, it was unfortunate for Rossoblu to miss most of the fall season, but at least the wonderfully designed space will have a chance to make up some lost time during the even busier holiday season. Reservations are now open again on Resy.

The water somm moves on

Martin Riese, who gained international fame and notoriety for starting a unique bottled water menu at Patina, coining the phrase “water sommelier,” has moved on to become the new food and beverage director at Petit Hermitage in West Hollywood. No word on if he would introduce a similar water menu to the posh resort. He was at Patina Group for seven years.

The Windmill spins once more

The iconic windmill above the Denny’s in Arcadia is back to spinning again after it fell into the restaurant in 2017. It took nearly a year to get the windmill back but Denny’s plans to have it running 24/7, with new changing LED colors to attract even more eyes. The windmill was originally part of a Van de Kamp’s bakery that resided in the building.

Repeal day specials around town

1933 Group is offering $1 cocktails on Repeal Day, which is tomorrow, from 5 to 8 p.m. at their various locations like Sassafras, Bigfoot Lodge, and La Cuevita. Each bar will have either a $1 Moscow Mule or Old Fashioned to honor the end of Prohibition.

No more bao in BH

Little Highness Bao in Beverly Hills has closed after an 18-month-run in the Golden Triangle, according to Toddrickallen. The Rowland Heights restaurant took over a small slot on Wilshire Boulevard serving mantou and xiaolongbao, but with high rents and perhaps overrated walking traffic, it didn’t last.

Eater LA

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Source: https://la.eater.com/2018/12/4/18124177/rossoblu-returns-to-action-december-5-morning-briefing

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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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On the Market: $599,000 El Sereno starter home; $1.3 million Highland Park 4-unit; Cypress Park bungalow going for $570,000

On The Market New Eastside Listings

Nearly 80 single-family homes, condos and other properties went up for sale on the Eastside during the last week. Here’s a sample of what’s new on the market:

New Listings By Neighborhood:

Eastside Property Listings showcase for sale and rental homes and apartments across The Eastside. Click here to find out how you can advertise your property.

Source: https://www.theeastsiderla.com/2018/11/on-the-market-599000-el-sereno-starter-home-1-3-million-highland-park-4-unit-cypress-park-bungalow-going-for-570000/

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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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79 Apartments Could Replace 19th Century Building in Westlake

A 19th century building in Westlake could make way for a new apartment complex, according plans submitted yesterday to the City of Los Angeles.

The property, located at 831 S. Westlake Avenue, is currently improved with 17 residential units. Plans call for clearing the existing two-story structure - which was completed in 1895 - to make way for a seven-story building featuring 79 residential units - including 12 set aside at the very low-income affordability level - with a two-level parking podium.

Requested entitlements include Transit Oriented Communities affordable housing incentives, including a reduction in required open space and side yards.

City records list the project applicant as Westlake Apartments, LP. The entity is attached to Raman Nourizad, who is listed as the Director of the Downtown-based jewelry company Ninacci, Inc.

Mobbil, Inc., a civil engineering firm, is representing the applicant.

The project, located a block south of MacArthur Park, would neighbor a similar 57-unit apartment complex with retail planned for a vacant lot at the corner of 8th and Alvarado Streets.

Source: https://urbanize.la/post/79-apartments-could-replace-19th-century-building-westlake

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poetspade45-blog · 6 years ago

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Training Luxury: Customers buy experiences in physical stores, not products

A new generation of shoppers and workers are walking through the doors of fashion stores. Business strategies from mid-range brands to luxury brands are changing. To understand this change, brands need to leave an open space to create and implement new strategies for success. What are the tools for optimizing staff training? How can brands efficiently serve consumers? Who should fashion companies hire to ensure success and avoid turnover?

Renato Mosca, founder and CEO of international retail specialist Training Luxury, weighs in on which new methods to use.

How would you define the current training sector of luxury companies?

Training Luxury: It is a complication period. While the sector is experiencing positive growth, there is a large imbalance with what is happening in China, Asia and the rest of the world. The keys to success are based on growth over the past 15 years, thanks to emerging markets - especially China - returning to a new normal in which success is measured by the customer’s experience and loyalty. E-commerce is growing immensely, and will clearly continue to affect the relationship between consumers and physical stores. The development of this relationship is not solely a “facade,” it is becoming strategic. Today, we can no longer discuss simply the customization of the product; customizing relationships has almost become more important.

What changes or trends have you observed recently in this sector?

The customer experience is surely the most common issue. Customers don’t purchase more products, but rather experiences. Online shopping have put traditional sales to the test. Thanks to social media and websites, shoppers are much more prepared before entering a store and already knows in detail the characteristics of the products they want to buy. The customer knows what to find and a sales consultant is capable of understanding these wishes. The physical store plays a new role, complementary to online commerce. I think that physical stores will continue to have a pertinent importance (Amazon wouldn’t think to open all of its physical stores we’ve been speaking about), but with a role completely different to that of traditional stores. Wanting to compete with the same weapons is anachronistic. The physical store should stimulate desires and not give information about the products. That is totally outdated.

Which profile is sought most by luxury brands?

It is clear that with this scenario, the profile of the retailer must change a lot. Previously, the retailer was an expert in its products. Now, the retailer must be an expert in its relationships. Of course, retailers must know the product, but above all else, they need to have empathy, great listening ability and the ability to identify the wishes of the customer. These points become essential requirements. The new sales consultant must be "interested" rather than "interesting." The sale will be the result of the application of a "customer journey" (the customer’s visit inside the store) and the ability to step out of the box to meet the specific needs of the customer. This is what Americans call "managing unmapped customer journey."

I sincerely believe that it is a serious mistake to confuse the customer experience with the implementation of a technological tool in the store. Without the support of the sales staff, it becomes an unprofitable investment and, after a while, becomes unattractive to the customer.

How can you improve teamwork?

I think that many organizations underestimate the importance of corporate values and how these values should be reflected in the behavior of workers. Unfortunately, in many cases, values are words without much depth and turn into something that is said to employees during their first days of work without giving them too much weight. Today, many organizations still work with "Silo," without promoting integration between departments. At first glance, there would be no conflict, but everyone only cultivates their own garden. Competition between departments is encouraged, although in a related sense, it is called collaboration. In retail, this is obvious: how do you promote the customer experience in a healthy way if there are still individual sales commissions?

Successful organizations base all their processes on values, from selection to training and internal promotion of talent. It ends up promoting teamwork. Everyone knows where to go, what behaviors are based on these values, and it's easy to identify them internally. The goal is the same, from the financial director to the salesman.

Who are Training Luxury’s classes for and how do they work?

Our courses have the same experience as mentioned above and are aimed at companies that really believe in the development of their employees. We specialize in the luxury, fashion and consumer goods sectors. At the same time, the courses on leadership and communication are offered to banks and multinationals from other sectors. First, we seek to understand why training is needed and what stage of change or development the company needs. It is essential to understand if after the training, there will be someone who will give the necessary follow-up to implement new skills and new behaviors. Training is just one of the elements. With our courses, we want to help companies understand how to communicate their values to employees. And for employees to identify the behaviors that will need to be passed on to the end customer.

Business coaching is a trend ... Why is it so important to apply it to luxury businesses?

Coaching is now an almost indispensable tool for business leaders. Micromanagement and highly directive style don’t help people to develop and take proactive initiatives. Talents want the opportunity to think and find solutions for themselves. They want to achieve the goals and style of directive leadership, which causes a lack of motivation, especially in profiles with more potential in organizations.

Obviously, this often happens in luxury businesses, and especially in stores. If there the necessary follow-up is not there, there is more demotivation and a strong turnover of personnel. For this, coaching is a fantastic tool. It helps to think and take responsibility and initiatives when creating an action plan. Now you must know how to coach. We see a lot of manipulation sold, because coaching does not manipulate anyone.

In respect to hiring, why is the turnover rate generally so high?

Workplace turnover or dissatisfaction are two fairly common elements today. I think this is due to the lack of identification of the profile sought in organizations. In many cases, human resources are looking for a profile of the candidate X and the sales manager is thinking about a profile Y. And this is "paralyzing" the selection process, because there is no coherence within of the same structure. In addition, many companies still base their selection process solely on the quality of the candidate's CV, regardless of the culture, values and degree of integration of the individual in the group. Our role as consultants is to help companies to identify the profile that best fits their values and culture. This is why our analysis goes beyond the interview and taking into account the CV; it also relies on new tools allowing an assessment of the motivations of the personality linking the motivation of the performance. This helps to create a powerful prediction of the candidate's success in a certain professional environment. Companies that rely heavily on our consulting style are able to reduce the selection process by as much as 50 percent and use a shortlist of highly focused candidates on the job.

What advantages would better hiring guidance provide fashion companies?

The benefits would be huge. Not only would the turnover decrease, but staff would be much more engaged, more identified with the values of the brand. When the only motivation is the salary, employees are willing to see the competition more easily. When workers have the same values as the company, they work with much more dedication and the end customer notices this.

This article was originally published on FashionUnited.fr. Translated and edited by Robyn Turk.

Photos: courtesy of Training Luxury

Source: https://fashionunited.com/news/business/physical-stores-should-stimulate-momentum-rather-than-providing-product-information-according-to-training-luxury/2018122725304

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