WeatherBrains

Big Brains Media LLC
  • 4.6 (167)
  • Earth Sciences
  • Updated Weekly

The world's oldest and greatest weather podcast. Join weather geeks James Spann, Bill Murray, Kim Klockow-McClain, Dr. Neil Jacobs, Rick Smith, Aubrey Urbanowicz, Jen Narramore, and Troy Kimmel along with some of the most brilliant minds in the weather enterprise every week!

  1. 22h ago

    WeatherBrains 1073: Chicken Inbreeding

    This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about Hawaii. Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is the Chief Meteorologist at Hawaii News Now.  She has given over 15 years of service and has provided trusted coverage for the Hawaiian Islands including tropical cyclones, earthquakes, tsunamis, fires, and other natural disasters.  She earned her Bachelor's degree in Atmospheric Ocean Science at San Fransisco State University.  Jennifer Robbins, welcome to WeatherBrains! Tonight's Guest Panelist is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) at the NWS office in Honolulu.  He works Statewide with a wide variety of partners and earned his Bachelor of Science in Atmospheric Sciences from the University of Michigan in 1998.  He started at NWS Marquette MI in 1999, and has worked with the NWS Honolulu since 2006, and the WCM since 2017.  John Bravender, thanks for joining us tonight! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. Jennifer's early weather background (10:00) John's early weather background (15:30) What exactly is it like to forecast for the State of Hawaii?  (18:00) Difficulties forecasting with Hawaiian microclimates (20:00) Employee organization at NWS Honolulu (25:30) Torrential rainfall and major flooding in Hawaii caused by Kona lows (33:00) What exactly is a Kona low?  (42:30) What happened to the Central Pacific Hurricane Center? (49:00) 1992's Hurricane Iniki (50:00) Introduction of chickens to Hawaii in the wake of Hurricane Iniki (53:30) Fire weather threats and how it has changed in recent years (58:30) Tsunami risks and concerns in Hawaii (01:07:45) Warning protocol in the State of Hawaii regarding tsunamis and severe weather (01:19:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:25:30) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:27:30) E-Mail Segment (01:29:00) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:31:30) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1073:   Hawaii News Now First Alert Weather Honolulu, HI NWS Forecast Office Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: John Bravender - Homeowner's Handbook to Prepare for Natural Hazards James Aydelott - Okie James on Facebook: In 1936, the start of a truly hideous stretch of never-seen-since Summer weather in Tulsa Jen Narramore - Dyer County Historical Society Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - Population structure and hybridisation in a population of Hawaiian feral chickens John Gordon - LoriGraceWX Monsoon Photography Bill Murray - Out James Spann - Proposed changes to WPC's Excessive Rainfall Outlook The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

  2. Aug 4

    WeatherBrains 1072: Georgia On My Mind

    This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about the Georgia Severe Storms Research Center.  Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is the Director of the Georgia Severe Storms Research Center.  Growing up in Minnesota, he always had exposure to severe weather and took a keen interest early in his life.  He earned his Bachelor of Science in meteorology from Iowa State University.  Their research focuses on X-band radar that operates jointly between Georgia Tech and the University of Georgia.  They have done extensive research, with a major focus on lightning.  Michael Peterson, welcome to WeatherBrains! Tonight's Guest Panelist is a research scientist at the Georgia Severe Storms Research Center.  She received a Bachelor's Degree from Penn State University, and earned her Master's Degree in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma.  Jessica Losego, thanks for joining us tonight! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. Jessica's early background in the field of weather (17:00) REU (Research Experience for Undergraduates) (2:00) IHOP (International H2O Project) (21:00) When was the Georgia Severe Storms Research Center founded and what do they do?  (24:30) Dual Pol variables in X-Band (26:30) North Georgia Lightning Mapping Array (39:30) 2008 Downtown Atlanta, GA tornado during SEC tournament (57:30) GA Tech's research on tornadogenesis (01:01:00) What is cold air damming (CAD)? (01:03:30) New world record lightning flash discovered by SSRC (01:06:30) What is the definition of a mega flash?  (01:11:45) Difficulties forecasting random airmass convection in the Deep South (01:19:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:25:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:27:30) E-Mail Segment (01:29:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:38:30) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1072:   North Georgia Lightning Mapping Array Georgia Severe Storms Research Center Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: Jessica Losego - Weather with a Twist - Aaron Price on Substack Jessica Losego - "Atlanta Tornado of 1975" Volume 104 Issue 8 (1976) by E. F. Greneker Michael Peterson - Call for Papers - 2027 AMS Annual Meeting James Aydelott - OU Launches Oklahoma 3D Mesonet Jen Narramore - The Governor's Tornado - March 24, 1975 Rick Smith - Where Have the EF5s Gone? A Closer Look at the "Drought" of the Most Violent Tornadoes in the United States Troy Kimmel - GOES Image Viewer Kim Klockow-McClain - The Tiny Rain Icon On Your Weather App is Crushing Small Businesses John Gordon - Tornadoes in Wisconsin since 1950 Bill Murray - Out James Spann - NOAA's use of cloud infrastructure grows to include weather prediction models The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

  3. Jul 27

    WeatherBrains 1071: The Great Cornholio

    This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about the 1976 Big Thompson Flash Flood. Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is meteorologist Matt Kelsch.  He earned his Master's Degree from the University of Oklahoma and has written numerous papers on mountain meteorology and hydrology.  Retiring in 2022, he's an avid outdoorsmen, biker and gardener.  It's great to see you tonight, Matt! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. WSR 88-D NEXRAD (10:45) World Meteorological Organization:  What They Do (13:00) What tools were available for the NWS in 1976? (15:00) Significant 2013 Colorado flood (21:30) Photos of 1976 Big Thompson Flash Flood damage (27:00) July 28th, 1997 Spring Creek Flood at Fort Collins, CO (32:00) Proven success of converting creeks to floodways in 2013 (35:30) Devastating 1889 Johnstown, PA flood (37:30) Meteorological setup of Fort Collins 1997 Spring Creek flood (43:30) 2013 Colorado Flood (Great Erosional Flood) meteorological setup (48:30) Social science perspective on Call-To-Action for general public during floods (59:30) 500 Year Flood vs 1000 Year Flood (01:01:30) Profound lack of snowfall in Colorado during winter of 2025-2026 (01:10:00) Tips for meteorologists to better forecast and anticipate major flash flooding in present day (01:12:00) What is the definition of a flash flood?  (01:14:00) Flash Flood Watch/Warning protocol in 1976 (01:16:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week) E-Mail Segment (01:31:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:27:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1071:   World Meteorological Organization (WMO) Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: Matt Kelsch - Real-time Air Quality Monitoring by PurpleAir James Aydelott - River Photo James Aydelott - Photo of sculpture by Bradley T. Mullnix Jen Narramore - Rare waterspout near Montreal, Canada on July 23rd, 2008 Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - Out John Gordon - Matt Kelsch paper "Flash Flood Cases, Summary of Characteristics" John Gordon - Bob Maddox paper "Synoptic and Meso-a Scale Aspects of Flash Flood Events" Bill Murray - Out James Spann - 40 Years Later, Jim Cantore on Mount Rushmore of TV Weather The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

  4. Jul 21

    WeatherBrains 1070: Snert Storm

    This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about dust storms. Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is the MIC (Meteorologist in Charge) of NWS Goodland, Kansas.  A Nebraska native, he's logged over a quarter century of service for the NWS, with prior stops in Omaha, Sioux Falls, and North Platte.  He earned his Bachelor's degree from Nebraska-Lincoln.  Jeremy Martin, welcome to the show! Guest Panelist and NWA President Kim Runk joins us tonight discussing the NWA (National Weather Association) and a preview of the upcoming NWA annual meeting in Omaha, Nebraska.  Thanks for joining us, Kim! Program Chair of the 2026 NWA Annual Meeting Jessica Stumpf also joins us as Guest Panelist.  She's the Public Safety Solution Engineer Meteorologist at Baron Weather, and has a decade of prior experience in Emergency Management.  She has a Bachelor's from Penn State and is a former broadcast meteorologist.  Jessica, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. Tropical Depression 2 in the Gulf struggling with shear and dry air (02:00) What got Jeremy into meteorology?  (08:00) Life/culture at the Goodland KS National Weather Service (09:30) Dust storm official definition (14:30) Unusual circumstances of forecasting haboobs (20:30) Coordination between NWS and EMA (26:30) Dust Storm Warnings - do they make a difference?  (29:30) Debating the Dust Capital of America (43:30) Advocating for the field of meteorology on Capitol Hill (58:00) Why should I join the NWA as a meteorology student?  (01:05:30) 2026 NWA Annual Meeting in Omaha:   When and Where (01:17:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:20:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:22:45) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:34:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1070:   "Connect5 Leadership: Growing Leaders by Serving Others" by Kim Runk 2026 AMS Annual Meeting Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: Jeremy Martin - NASA Dust Tracker AI Jessica Stumpf - SC Emergency Manager App Jessica Stumpf - 2026 Esri User Conference San Diego, CA Kim Runk - Weather and Climate Collections - NOAA Library James Aydelott - World's Largest Easel in Goodland, Kansas Jen Narramore - WeatherBrains 855: Nocturnal MCS Mode Rick Smith - How 2026 World Cup Venues Handle the Heat (and Humidity, and Storms…) Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - Out John Gordon - Amazing Footage of Debris Flow in Illgraben Bill Murray - Out James Spann - Real Time Tropical Cyclones The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

  5. Jul 14

    WeatherBrains 1069: We're In The Weird Zone

    This week's WeatherBrains episode is all about hydrology.  Tonight's episode examines the devastating 1997 Red River Flood.   Joining us tonight as Guest WeatherBrain is from Devils Lake, North Dakota. She is the Service Hydrologist at NWS Grand Forks, and is a twenty-year veteran in Federal service.  Amanda Lee, welcome to WeatherBrains! Second Guest WeatherBrain is the Senior Hydrologist at NWS North Central RFC (River Forecast Center) in Chanhassen, Minnesota.  A Syracuse native, he joined the US Air Force as a weather officer, then earned his Masters Degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Utah.  He's spent over 15 years at the RFC (River Forecast Center).  Justin Palmer, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our Third Guest WeatherBrain tonight is a retired National Weather Service senior meteorologist technician, the former Data Acquisition Program Manager of the Grand Forks National Weather Service office. Mark attended North Dakota State University in Fargo during the late 80s into the early 90s, working with former state climatologist Dr John Enz. Mark Retired in November of 2014 after 40 1/2 years of combined federal and military service. Mark is currently 3:00 to 6:00 PM afternoon host on KNOX Radio in Grand Forks ND, and has been associated with latent broadcasting since 2016. Mark also operates Home On The Prairie Weather LLC, providing agricultural climate forecasts and other related information to agricultural and civic groups.  Mark Ewens, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. Amanda's background in meteorology (10:00) Working as a Service Hydrologist:  What do they do?  (12:00) What is a River Forecast Center (RFC)?  (17:30) What is CHPS?  (Community Hydrologic Prediction System)  (28:00) Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) Data Set Hydrology Section (31:30) Advantages of being a Service Hydrologist concerning shift work (39:30) How accurate is Hydro modeling, and what factors are involved? (42:00) Snow cores:  The Basics (45:00) Snow pack in the Dakotas: How long does it last, and how thick does it get? (55:30) Meteorological background of 1997 Red River Flood event (58:30) 1997 Red River Flood's public and Emergency Management response (01:01:30) Disinformation found online regarding river flooding (01:12:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:19:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week) E-Mail Segment (No segment this week) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:21:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1069:   KNOX News Radio Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: Amanda Lee - "A River Runs North (Managing an International River)" by Gene Krenz and Jay Leitch Amanda Lee - "Red River Rising: The Anatomy of a Flood and the Survival of an American City" by Ashley Shelby Justin Palmer - USGS Endangered, Discontinued and Rescued Streamgages Mapper Mark Ewens - NDAWN - North Dakota Agricultural Weather Network James Aydelott - Footage near Tulliby Lake in central Alberta, Canada Jen Narramore - Out Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - An ethical analysis of hydrometeorological prediction and decision making: The case of the 1997 Red River flood John Gordon - LIT/LZK back online with upper air launches Bill Murray - Out James Spann - Gulf Coast Weather The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

  6. Jul 7

    WeatherBrains 1068: They Kicked Booty

    This week's WeatherBrains episode examines the July 2025 Texas flooding disaster.   Our Guest WeatherBrain tonight is the Chief Meteorologist of KABB-TV Fox News At Nine in San Antonio, Texas.  He is a multi-disciplined individual with professional experience as an educator and broadcaster. He holds several degrees and certifications, including a B.S. in Education, a Master's in Education with Certification as an Educational Administrator, and of course, he's a Broadcast Meteorologist.  He has received the AMS Seal of Approval and has been the recipient of six Associated Press Awards for Best Weathercast. He is a member of the American Meteorological Society, National Weather Association, and the Knights of Columbus.  Alex Garcia, thanks for joining us tonight! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. Recollections from KABB-TV leading up to Texas flood tragedy (11:30) Wording of originally issued Flash Flood Watch prior to event (17:30) Why doesn't the public immediately react to weather watches?  (20:00) Mentality of the threat of flash flooding vs other types of severe weather (25:00) Improving the clarity of the call to action in response to inland flooding events (30:00) Flood Inundation Mapping (36:00) The half-life of awareness in the wake of tragedies like 2025 Texas Flood event (49:00) With no Independent Review, how can you improve?  (52:00) Role of weather radio in modern warning process (55:00) National Weather Service app in the future?  (55:30) Severe Thunderstorm Definition/Warnings that do not verify and the resulting public inaction (01:02:00) What is NWS definition of a Flash Flood? (01:02:30) Confusion from Areal Flood Advisories (01:05:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:14:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:15:30) E-Mail Segment (01:16:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:26:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1068:   Alex Garcia Weather on X Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: Alex Garcia - NTWC James Aydelott - Westheimer Airport in Norman measures 92mph wind gust Jen Narramore - Chinese Wedge tornado Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Funnel cloud spotted in Interior Alaska on July Fourth Troy Kimmel - Meteorological Overview of the July 2025 Texas Floods Kim Klockow-McClain - Review of the National Weather Service's Actions to Support Kerr County During the Catastrophic Flash Flood in Texas John Gordon - June 29th Significant Wind Event Bill Murray - Out James Spann - National Weather Service faces hurricane season with less experienced staff, missing data The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

  7. Jun 30

    WeatherBrains 1067: I'll Go With Fujita For $1000

    This week's WeatherBrains episode turns back to the clock to June 8th, 1966 and the Topeka, KS F5 tornado. Our Guest WeatherBrain on tonight's show is the Warning Coordination Meteorologist (WCM) for the NWS in Topeka KS.  With over three decades of experience in the field, he's been at the NWS for over 17 years.  As a Wisconsin native, he earned his degree in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences from the University of Wisconsin.  He's committed to improving public awareness, preparedness, and response by integrating social science research into the NWS products and services.  Chad Omitt, welcome to WeatherBrains!  Our next Guest WeatherBrain is the local history librarian at the Topeka and Shawnee County public library.   She holds a B.A. in forensic anthropology and history from Wichita State University.  She's a speaker with the Humanities Kansas Speakers Bureau and gives educational programs about life in Kansas during the Dust Bowl.  Katie Keckeisen, welcome to WeatherBrains! Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. June 2026 Kentucky flooding (01:00) Katie's early background in Kansas (07:00) June 8th, 1966 meteorological setup (10:45) Meteorological equipment used during during the 1960s (21:00) Visual photos of daytime Topeka tornado (26:30) Bill Kurtis and his role at WIBW-TV during the tornado (28:30) Save room on the volume knob for a "10"!  (37:00) Topeka's Burnett's Mound:  A historical deepdive (37:30) Kansas Governor's response after tornado (44:00) Damage photos from tornadoes and the resulting changes to Topeka (49:30) Topeka tornado was one of the first utilizations of civil defense outdoor warning system (01:00:00) 1955 Udall KS tornado (01:00:30) Tornado subculture in the 1960s (01:07:30) Lessons learned from this event from 60 years ago (01:19:30) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (01:26:00) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (No segment this week) E-Mail Segment (01:28:00) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:31:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1067:   Humanities Kansas Speakers Bureau "And Hell Followed With It: Life and Death in a Kansas Tornado" by Bonar Menninger Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: Katie Keckeisen - Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library Chad Omitt - OTUS Project James Aydelott - "History of Operational Use of Weather Radar by U.S. Weather Services. Part I: The Pre-NEXRAD Era" Jen Narramore - Tornado Talk Podcast Episode 7: The 1966 Topeka Tornado Rick Smith - Out Troy Kimmel - Out Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn John Gordon - Collin Gross on X: Europe's historic heatwave continues Bill Murray - Out James Spann - James Spann on X: Big Sky Montana snow photos The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

  8. Jun 23

    WeatherBrains 1066: Bladder of Iron

    This week's WeatherBrains episode is a home-grown show all about storm chasing:  The Good, The Bad, The Ugly. Our email officer Jen is continuing to handle the incoming messages from our listeners. Reach us here: email@weatherbrains.com. Waning interest in storm chasing (04:00) Holding it while dealing with long-form severe weather coverage (10:00) Current state of storm chasing in 2026 (16:00) Importance of enforcing traffic laws when dealing with a saturated chaser community (27:30) Oklahoma traffic laws concerning emergency lights (31:30) Liability insurance requirements for those who continue to storm chase? (36:00) NOAA's OPG (Operations Proving Ground) (49:30) What is the purpose of a service assessment?  (59:30) State of Connecticut doesn't need 3 WFOs! (01:02:00) Importance of interacting directly with the people we serve in the field of weather to mitigate loss of life (01:10:00) Discriminating between weaknesses and strengths in the warning process (01:21:30) Effectively utilizing user generated content during long-form severe weather coverage (01:23:30) Private Slack chat session with trusted weather professionals to weed out AI/fake images (01:28:00) The Astronomy Outlook with Tony Rice (No segment this week - stay tuned!) This Week in Tornado History With Jen (01:29:30) E-Mail Segment (01:30:30) Sneak peak at future WeatherBrains episodes! (01:41:00) and more! Web Sites from Episode 1066:   Alabama Weather Network Picks of the Week: James Aydelott - Illinois: More tornadoes than Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas combined, year to date. (225 vs 191) Jen Narramore - Tennessee Valley Weather on X: "Tennessee Valley Weather Adds Weather Balloon Launch Capability to Strengthen Severe Weather Forecasting" Rick Smith - Facts About Derechos Troy Kimmel - IEM Generated Regional Temperature and Precipitation Report Kim Klockow-McClain - Foghorn John Gordon - Dave Throup on X: Shelf Cloud pic at Glastonbury Tor Bill Murray - Out James Spann - SkyeCalm Storm Anxiety App The WeatherBrains crew includes your host, James Spann, plus other notable geeks like Troy Kimmel, Bill Murray, Rick Smith, James Aydelott, Jen Narramore, John Gordon, and Dr. Kim Klockow-McClain. They bring together a wealth of weather knowledge and experience for another fascinating podcast about weather.

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4.6
out of 5
167 Ratings

About

The world's oldest and greatest weather podcast. Join weather geeks James Spann, Bill Murray, Kim Klockow-McClain, Dr. Neil Jacobs, Rick Smith, Aubrey Urbanowicz, Jen Narramore, and Troy Kimmel along with some of the most brilliant minds in the weather enterprise every week!

Information

  • Creator
    Big Brains Media LLC
  • Years Active
    2006 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2022 Big Brains Media, LLC
  • Show Website
    WeatherBrains

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