- cdoxie, on 08/21/2008, -4/+24Food inflation hasn't really it yet. Consider that fossil fuels account for 80% of the cost of fertilizer and the increased cost form the energy shock are just beginning to trickle down to the level of production. The next round of crops planted, grain fed to livestock et. will reflect the current market price of energy. sorry for the bad news.
- surprisemikesex, on 08/22/2008, -12/+2
- stagmire, on 08/22/2008, -0/+4what?
- TheXuu, on 08/22/2008, -0/+5i hasn't goodly get what say by you?
- cadmiumpaint, on 08/22/2008, -7/+3all i need to consider is that when i go to the grocery store stuff costs more than it did a few months ago. Less essential things like bread, milk, meat etc are ever on sale, and my grocery bills are getting a bit bigger each month. I don't need a study or the statistics you pulled out of your butt to tell me that.
- trickyt, on 08/22/2008, -1/+18Actually at my store lots of things cost the same. You just have to have a good memory to realize that your cereal now comes in 12oz packages instead of 13.5oz ones.
- iamchewy, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1"Less essential things like bread, milk, meat etc"
Wait, if bread and meat are not essential, what do you consider to be essential?
- bigstinky, on 08/22/2008, -0/+10I have to respectfully disagree with you in small part cdoxie. I am a chef and right now I am paying 14% more for the same product I purchased at this time last year, 21% more than 2 years ago.It has hit, and it has hit hard and fast. You do have a point though. I have read reports that predict an average of 7 to 10 % increase in food cost over the next few years exponentially and it is directly influenced by the cost of fuel- especially diesel fuel. Whether it be due to transporting the food or the use of farms for growing corn for bio fuel (over growing food stuff itself) Either way, we are screwed.
- nycmac247, on 08/22/2008, -1/+4thanks for your post - reality
- nycmac247, on 08/22/2008, -1/+4thanks for your post - reality
- JustinCase18, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2Keep in mind that the media hasn't really tracked food commodities as closely as oil and gas. Soy prices, for example increase by 40% from July 2006 to July 2007 and the again increased 140% (not a typo) from July 2007 to July 2008. (Don't even get me started on the whole corn/ethanol fiasco). Its going to take some serious time for prices to trickle down after price increases like these.
- surprisemikesex, on 08/22/2008, -12/+2
- surprisemikesex, on 08/22/2008, -5/+40
- goldenratiophi, on 08/22/2008, -1/+3It's relief because it's finally (relatively) stable.
- trickyt, on 08/22/2008, -2/+11Relatively stable? Again, wtf are you smoking?
No one has any idea what gas will cost in 3-6 months much less a year or two. It's not stable if you can't plan on it. - stagmire, on 08/22/2008, -1/+4Oil futures traders seem to have some idea what it will cost, otherwise they wouldn't have dumped all their shares at $150/bbl.
- SDM187, on 08/22/2008, -0/+3The price of oil shot up $6 today day... we're not even close to being out of the woods yet. additionally, this may be around the cheapest it EVER is again.
- trickyt, on 08/22/2008, -2/+11Relatively stable? Again, wtf are you smoking?
- lostsymphonies1, on 08/22/2008, -0/+13It's all relative. Would you rather pay $4.50 or $3.50? I would love to be paying $3.50 for gas right now
- oveedrx, on 08/22/2008, -3/+3^ and thats why gas will stay at these prices and only go up
- Khast, on 08/22/2008, -1/+4I'd rather pay $3.50...however where I live it is $4.63/gallon. And that is in Washington State.
- jus1haz2, on 08/22/2008, -1/+2It's 3.99 in WA for me, im in Tri-Cities and was 3.79 in bellingham when i went up there last week. Where is it 4.63?
- greeniemeani, on 08/22/2008, -3/+2I am paying 3.30 for gas. Suckers!
- ThE0eNiGmA, on 08/22/2008, -0/+23.13 in at a couple of gas stations in NJ. At least SOMETHING is cheap here.
- Meocross, on 08/22/2008, -0/+0Get a freaking bike we havent used a car for 4 years and are doing just fine.
- senatorpjt, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1Any money I save on gas by riding a bike is offset by the gas it takes to heat the water for the shower to wash the sweat off. Unfortunately we don't live in a society where people will accept me smelling like ***** all the time.
- joel367, on 08/22/2008, -8/+1At them gas prices you are A slave and don't even know it. When I started driving gas was 1.25 us, I stopped driving all together when the price of gas was 2.50 us. When I was driving I could barely pay my bills and get to work.
But then I am retired now and I have 500 bucks to spend every month after bills and I can buy what I want when I want.- Devrdander, on 08/22/2008, -1/+6You started driving ~10 years ago? and you are already retired?
- SDM187, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1Probably not the best of calls to be retired if you can "barely pay your bills." $500 a month for random spending isn't exactly solid for a 31 yr old retired dude, dude.
- coreyb, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2$3.50... we are still paying up to $4.33 a gallon. A 20 mile commute is breaking us here.
- regeya, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1Yeah, and part of that $6 runup in oil today was due to the "obvious" jump in gasoline use as indicated by that petroleum distillate "surprise inventory drop." I've seen the headlines and the analysts' take--consumption won't drop, cheap oil is gone forever, it was all supply and demand after all, blah blah blah. How many people do you know who're still driving less? Are we suddenly forgetting the actual data pointing toward the culprit being hot money flowing into oil and commodity futures?
If and when Fannie and Freddie fail, although it will cause severe economic repercussions, I'm fairly certain we can expect for prices to ease.
- goldenratiophi, on 08/22/2008, -1/+3It's relief because it's finally (relatively) stable.
- lestyoubejudged, on 08/22/2008, -0/+54I love how prices lag on the recovery but never on the initial rise in prices.
- heymike, on 08/22/2008, -2/+7I don't think you guys are in recovery yet, still on the way down imho. This is not solely due to inflation either, ethanol subsidies are a factor.
- lestyoubejudged, on 08/22/2008, -1/+3Oh I agree, there is no way we are in recovery.
- sarixe, on 08/22/2008, -1/+3"you guys"? who the hell are you?
- fatrandy13, on 08/22/2008, -1/+1***** debby downer over here...
- heymike, on 08/22/2008, -2/+7I don't think you guys are in recovery yet, still on the way down imho. This is not solely due to inflation either, ethanol subsidies are a factor.
- nthpro, on 08/22/2008, -0/+6Not in Alaska where some of the nations gas comes from. We are still paying 4.38 a gallon. And the main refinery up here announced today that it has operational issues so prices are expected to go up. Ouch.
- akchrs, on 08/22/2008, -0/+24.46 a gallon in Juneau
- trickyt, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2Exxon called and told them to "get creative" with maintenance.
- BHO4Prez, on 08/22/2008, -2/+0Whoa, there are people living in Alaska? I thought only caribous and polar bears lived there.
- stagmire, on 08/22/2008, -1/+2I thought they didn't actually live there, and therefore it was safe to dig up ANWR.
- Newportbeachguy, on 08/22/2008, -8/+40STOP ETHANOL!
- megadan76, on 08/22/2008, -11/+4ETHANOL IS NOT THE CAUSE OF HIGH FOOD PRICES!
Sorry to shout, but man, people are just not getting this. Stop with the Ethanol. We all know, every one of us, that it uses up food inefficiently. We got that.Drop it. No one is going to be running ethanol cars. We understand the problem. Jeez. - kinerry, on 08/22/2008, -2/+9It's called cellulosic ethanol, you goddamn uninformed hippie
- angryfirelord, on 08/22/2008, -0/+7We need more switchgrass and hemp (if it gets legalized).
- tim620, on 08/22/2008, -6/+2ETHANOL is NOT the problem (or even a problem). Here is what most of the people who are shouting about ethanol don't understand:
1. The corn used to produce ethanol is NOT human grade corn (yes, there a number of different types of corn). It is meant for animals, like cattle, to consume.
2. In the process of ethanol creation, a high protein "mash" is created as a byproduct, which is fed to cattle. So there is very little waste of corn. In other words, you can't even blame the high price of meat on ethanol.
3. Even if it were human grade corn, there is such a small percentage of American corn that is currently used for ethanol production that it wouldn't make a dent in the prices.
That being said, I can see no reason to stop ethanol.
- rkzda, on 08/22/2008, -1/+3Thank you. I will continue to use E85 in my Ranger as long as it is cheaper for me to run than gas.
- sup4141, on 08/22/2008, -2/+4I can think of 2 reasons to stop ethanol.
1. Fertilizer runoff into the Gulf of Mexico.
2. It is less efficient than gasoline so you will probably end up paying more. - tim620, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2@sup4141
Good points. I have personally tested 10% ethanol blend against premium gasoline and yes, you are right, the ethanol is less efficient, but the price difference puts about the same cost per mile. Unfortunately, you are also right about the fertilizer runoff. However the runoff will happen with or without ethanol. Ethanol has not increased corn production that much, even if it did, fertilizer is used for other crops as well, so almost all non-organic farmland produces some runoff.
- megadan76, on 08/22/2008, -11/+4ETHANOL IS NOT THE CAUSE OF HIGH FOOD PRICES!
- pstroll, on 08/22/2008, -20/+5God forbid American lard asses have to pay a little extra for their Cheezdoodles and Pepsi.
- Unzorn, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1*ahem* Diet Pepsi
- scabbers, on 08/22/2008, -0/+17Try passing on the extra costs to your employer by asking for a raise, and see how well that goes.
- DaviDTC, on 08/22/2008, -2/+5+$2 Just last week.
- deff, on 08/22/2008, -0/+3Tried it. Got the run-around, despite record profits this year. *****, I need a new job.
- maximilen, on 08/22/2008, -1/+4Gas won't keep going down in the long run :( Sorry lifted-F250-driving-dude.
- TheXuu, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2http://xkcd.com/437/ ?
- Spartycus, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2But can it crush cars?
- sarixe, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2I envy the person who has the money to say "I'm going to buy a Ford F-250, and be able to pay for gas!"
Although, I really don't need that kind of power.
- Rewebbed, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2The good news just keeps on pouring in doesn't it... :/
- nastronomical, on 08/22/2008, -12/+12Drill here drill now, lower taxes and dont elect a democrat.
- sarixe, on 08/22/2008, -0/+4nor a republican.
- xptoast, on 08/22/2008, -0/+5Picking a politician these days is like choosing which STDs you would like to pick up at the voting booth.
- cadmiumpaint, on 08/22/2008, -2/+14Last month gas prices were "insane". this month they are still "ridiculous". The cheapest gas in my area is around $3.98. Thats not relief, its just a softer, gentler rape.
you put gas prices under 2 bux a gallon, then we can talk relief OR you can increase my paycheck to account for all my bills going up.- tykwondingo, on 08/22/2008, -1/+2Soft and gentle rape... is still rape.
Ima ride me a bicycle!
::que Queen:: - prophetpimp, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2God. what i wouldn't give to have gas prices below 4dollars. You Americans have it easy when it comes to fuel prices so stop bitching.
- laughandsing, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1Gas is 3.47 in md
- tykwondingo, on 08/22/2008, -1/+2Soft and gentle rape... is still rape.
- wrathchilde, on 08/22/2008, -3/+29Food prices do not go down.
When living in Hawaii, I noticed it was $6.50 for a box of Rice Crispies. Naturally, I feel like, WTF? So, they explain that it is because of the shipping cost. O'RLY? Then how come my brother can buy a box at Safeway in Seatlle, slap $1.50 in stamps on it, and get it to me for less than $6.50? Do they FedEx overnight each box? Or, does it cost about $0.04 for each box in a huge-ass container on a ship? Why do they charge what they do? Because they can.- KSUdesigner, on 08/22/2008, -4/+5Hawaii is a unique situation, you can't compare the rest of the country to Hawaii.
- wrathchilde, on 08/22/2008, -3/+5Don't be thick. Of course Hawaii, or Alaska, is going to have specific issues. The point I tried to make was that when an excuse to raise prices exists, such as increased transportation costs, retailers and businesses will gladly pass it on to the consumer. If the pressure relaxes a bit, more profit, not a return to lower costs. Taxi subsidies are not going back down, nor are airline tickets or anything else that depends on transportation.
- stack3r, on 08/22/2008, -1/+3I believe this is where competition steps in, when one company will start to deliver the same products or similar products for less than competitors, because they can.
- PinkFloyd2003, on 08/22/2008, -0/+9That's actually a really interesting point. Especially when something like FedEx overnight shipping costs would typically be the most expensive means of delivering something as opposed if you are shipping something in bulk to a grocery store where the price of shipping should be drastically less per item.
- ghanes14, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1I know Hawaii requires different shipping methods as opposed to other places (shipped in containers rather than trailer). However, I do not see $6.50 for a box of one of the most basic cereals. I would not buy it for that price, can anybody say rod, reel, and bait? After all, you on an island surrounded by an ocean full of fish (that doesn't cost $6.50 and is better for you).
- ExOrienteLux, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2The high cost of shipping to Hawai'i is because Matson has a monopoly on shipping. There is a regulation (Jones Act) that only American ships can ship from American ports to American ports. Most shipping companies are foreign owned. Therefore Matson over charges on shipping besides the fact that most of the ships going back are empty so we pay double in shipping.
This explains why a Japanese car is more expensive in Hawai'i than on the mainland. They have to be shipped to the West Coast first then shipped to Hawai'i!
The politicians could at least exempt Hawai'i but Matson and it's owner Alexander and Baldwin donate to so many of the politicians, esp. the Hawaiian politicians.
- KSUdesigner, on 08/22/2008, -4/+5Hawaii is a unique situation, you can't compare the rest of the country to Hawaii.
- dfsiii, on 08/22/2008, -0/+10Also note that big chemical companies like Dow, BASF, and DuPont have raised their prices to account for the rising prices for crude and natural gas. These are the people who make the raw components for food and packaging - sometimes two steps removed from the end-product-producer. With prices up around 30-40% across the board in some sectors... those costs will be pushed down the chain to the consumer over time. Not big, bad, evil corporation in this case, but companies needing to protect their already razor-thin margins in the low-end basic chemicals market as feedstock prices go through the roof.
- gvetterick, on 08/22/2008, -0/+12The floods in the midwest didn't help, either. Prices are going to be up for a while
- bbsregt, on 08/22/2008, -3/+0how about replacing 'flood' with 'BLOOD'.
- LilRabbitFooFoo, on 08/22/2008, -5/+5Gas won't be going down significantly...ever.
The recent 35 cent drop was just the end of summer bump we see every year (which always follows the Spring rise in gas prices).
It's going up from now on folks...sometimes fast...sometimes slow. Get used to it.
Support energy sources that don't rely on dead dinosaurs. :)- sdphost, on 08/22/2008, -0/+6Actually that's a misconception it actually mostly comes from dead planktons.
- TheDreadDiggerD, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1Dead dinosaur planktons. The evil of our times...
- sdphost, on 08/22/2008, -0/+6Actually that's a misconception it actually mostly comes from dead planktons.
- LilRabbitFooFoo, on 08/22/2008, -5/+18Stop ethanol.
Go solar.
Skip the middle man. :)- tim620, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2I think solar is a great idea, but I'm also not opposed to ethanol, and here is why:
1. The corn used to produce ethanol is NOT human grade corn (yes, there a number of different types of corn). It is meant for animals, like cattle, to consume.
2. In the process of ethanol creation, a high protein "mash" is created as a byproduct, which is fed to cattle. So there is very little waste of corn. In other words, you can't even blame the high price of meat on ethanol.
3. Even if it were human grade corn, there is such a small percentage of American corn that is currently used for ethanol production that it wouldn't make a dent in the prices.
That being said, I can see no reason to stop ethanol.- ghanes14, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1I did not know what type of corn it was they used to make ethanol, kind of interesting. However, far as being better environmental wise ethanol I believe is better for the environment than gasoline. But wouldn't solar power be even better for the environment?
Until recently I never thought twice about pollution, but the talk about global warming got me to thinking. Right now it's not that much hotter than usual where I live, but if it's taking a toll enough to raise it a little, just think what will come with more time. Plus the flood due to melting of the ice all over the world (and dieing polar bears).
Things are starting to get out of hand, the generation now could not have made it before there were cars or TV's, iPods or phones...
- ghanes14, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1I did not know what type of corn it was they used to make ethanol, kind of interesting. However, far as being better environmental wise ethanol I believe is better for the environment than gasoline. But wouldn't solar power be even better for the environment?
- tim620, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2I think solar is a great idea, but I'm also not opposed to ethanol, and here is why:
- mrzack, on 08/22/2008, -8/+2good, American's already too fat.
- stack3r, on 08/22/2008, -1/+1aaaaaaahahahahahah
- ghanes14, on 08/22/2008, -0/+0It's a known fact that America has more over weight people than any other country. I think the reason behind this is because so many people depend on their vehicles to get around everywhere.
When I say everywhere I mean it, I know the people across the street from me, and they use their jeep to see someone they know at the end of our road (I have clocked it at 3/10th of a mile to the end of the street). The ironic part is she's so skinny you see nothing but bone, but it's an example of how lazy we really can be.
- GregFD3S, on 08/22/2008, -7/+3Gas prices are only going down temporarily because the government wants people to support off-shore drilling.
- theboyjlowe, on 08/22/2008, -10/+2If you want gas prices to go down drill for oil in our country. Get rid of ethanol that raises food prices and do not elect a democrat because that gives u no chance for lower gas prices.
http://whybarackisajoke.com my blog- LordSteven, on 08/22/2008, -0/+5More like if you want gas prices to go down have the Fed crank interest rates way up and get Congress to stop with the 1/2 trillion dollar deficits.
- Densetsu, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2Yeah, because having a Republican in for two terms did *wonders* for gas prices. /sarcasm
- johndavidjack, on 08/22/2008, -0/+3Yeah, so did having a Democratic Congress, who promised us out of Iraq, and promised to lower prices.
- johndavidjack, on 08/22/2008, -0/+3Yeah, so did having a Democratic Congress, who promised us out of Iraq, and promised to lower prices.
- TheXuu, on 08/22/2008, -0/+3funny, i keep getting redirected to why-your-blog-is-a-joke.com
- theboyjlowe, on 08/22/2008, -0/+0Huh where is ur blog? my blog is actually getting people on it and i dont see yours.
- Etobian, on 08/22/2008, -4/+3The reason ethanol is being used is not to increase our fuel supply. It's to provide an oxygen source for cleaner burning. They used to use MTBE, but it is such a liability nightmare that oil companies couldn't switch to ethanol fast enough when it became feasible to do so.
- sidrush, on 08/22/2008, -1/+2i don't understand you people on digg . this guy made a great point. and you digg him down?????
anyone that bad mouths ethanol has not done their research . all i can say is visit an ethanol plant and follow the products and byproducts. then you can talk. and also do you know what MTBE does to your ground water????
- sidrush, on 08/22/2008, -1/+2i don't understand you people on digg . this guy made a great point. and you digg him down?????
- MrMysterious, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1Yeah, and don't expect gas prices to ever go down to the same ratio that it was for gallon of gas : barrel of oil.
- kinerry, on 08/22/2008, -1/+2*****
Less to deliver product = cheaper food (or slower rise in price as inflation goes) - george99, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1if the dollar were worth more, than things wouldn't cost so much. focusing too much on oil might be causing some myopia here.... inflation plus a shrinking dollar = more expensive everything.
- craigharley, on 08/22/2008, -2/+1What I want to know is why fuel company such as British gas use the excuse of rising cost of oil to justify increasing the cost of gas.Surely America has made enough money from "operation Iraqi freedom" to reduce the cost of living in the USA.
- laughandsing, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1What the hell?
- WhoWatches, on 08/22/2008, -1/+3Capital is a lot like water and flows to the lowest point. Some of what you see happening is a workforce that has been globalized causing fuel, currency and production to reach a "sea level". Most of us in the world could easily see a return to a pre-industrial era of peasant living, managing to sustain ourselves on what the local area can sustain.
The rich and elite will become the new kings and lords and we will work their land and pay them tribute. That has been the norm through-out history, the great experiment of liberty and free markets has failed because as a people we have let it. Instead we revert back to proping up despots and dictators who abuse us and take all of the wealth.
Or, we could revolt and just kill them all. - GardenDoor, on 08/22/2008, -2/+0Oh noes, I guess digger's won't be able to eat *rolls eyes*
- BikerDude69, on 08/22/2008, -2/+3If my dollar was worth what it should be in GOLD STANDARD, oil prices would have never changed. ***** you Richard Nixon! - http://www.uiowa.edu/ifdebook/faq/faq_docs/gold_st ...
http://www.gold-eagle.com/editorials_00/wanniski06 ...- ghanes14, on 08/22/2008, -0/+0Interesting articles, I bookmarked them to read in more detail later. I did not know about the gold standard, I learned something new again today...
- Vandango, on 08/22/2008, -1/+6Did none of you take economics? They'd sell a can of Coke for $100 dollars if you'd buy it. Who cares what it cost to make. If you want prices to go down, stop buying it and lower demand. It's really that simple. Gas prices have gotten hammered in the last month because demand dropped by 800k barrels a day. People realized that they didn't "need" to drive anymore and figured out other ways to get around.
- ghanes14, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1Got to give you a thumbs up for that comment! The prices did go quickly on food products (and other products as well) because the high gas prices all of a sudden. However, even though the gas goes down because a majority of people drove less, this means nothing for food products (or other products) because as long as people continue to purchase their product as you said, business wise there is no reason to lower the prices.
Many companies would probably consider it as "bad business" to lower their prices as long as people continue to purchase it at the same rate, and why should they make less money if everybody is willing to pay the extra costs?
- ghanes14, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1Got to give you a thumbs up for that comment! The prices did go quickly on food products (and other products as well) because the high gas prices all of a sudden. However, even though the gas goes down because a majority of people drove less, this means nothing for food products (or other products) because as long as people continue to purchase their product as you said, business wise there is no reason to lower the prices.
- understudy, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1But there will still be plenty of additives and synthetic chemicals in our food, right? I'd hate to see that change.
/sarcasm
_ - BrokenCircle, on 08/22/2008, -1/+1Am I going to have to be the douche that points out gas in my area is only $3.25?
- DeuceDiggalow, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2That's amazing, it's $4.15 here.
- Jade10145, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1I can understand the rise in gas prices, but I always wondered how the ***** they got so high so fast. It was literally over the course of only a few years that they exploded. I am aware of the several factors that contributed to this, but how come so high so fast? Sorry to get off topic, just something that I cannot fully comprehend.
- DeuceDiggalow, on 08/22/2008, -0/+2Gas prices never go down, stupid. It's a trick.
- DeuceDiggalow, on 08/22/2008, -1/+1Food is better than gas if you have to cut something out of your budget
- RationalXubrnce, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1 I love how the entirety of inflation is now blamed solely on oil prices. It's as if we don't have a financial system run by criminals.
- jinsundo, on 08/22/2008, -0/+1Isn't it just peachy that the price of oil went down? Now we can all get to work a little more cheaply to make the money that buy's the food that we can't afford to buy.
- gkiltz, on 08/22/2008, -0/+0One batch goes bad on the store shelves!
Second batch starts off slow!
Down go prices until they move the stuff!
Modern grocery stores have to move A LOT of merchandise to stay in business!
They'll price it so it moves, no matter what the charts say!!! - tiffanym5375, on 09/03/2008, -0/+0At my house we are trying (like most others) to cut back on both. Gas is the hard one. My husband has to get to work. I try to limit my driving unless its to a grocery store:) I have found planning and cutting coupons has saved my family $100's a month! I got $123 dollars in groceries this week at Publix for only $29!!! Then got all of our meats enough for 2-3wks buying manager specials and very cheap chicken at Kroger for only $25! It's not always easy, but it is possible. I just try to do what I can when where I can.
Tiffany
www.livingasmom.blogspot.com - donna1234, on 11/15/2008, -0/+1Food inflation is to stay — and will probably get worse for some things
http://www.foodencyclopedia.info/
http://www.e-uuu.com
http://www.gogetfit.net/



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