Not everyone can do big things to help, so what are some small things that we can all do to make the world a better place?

#1

-Until COVID is fully under control, wear a dang mask
-Use the turn signal on automobiles
-Corporations to stop using unneeded packaging
-Become an organ donor
-Spay and neuter
-Don’t litter
-Use patience when driving.
-Assume best intentions
-Learn accurate history and understand there is motivation to keeping people misinformed
-Understand that just because something has never happened to you, don’t mean it doesn’t happen to other

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Joan Humphreys
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This one is special to me. An organ donor who left this world, saved my son's life. There is no greater gift.

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#2

People being polite to workers and generally everyone.

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#3

Agree with everyone who posted so far. My 2 cents: Admit when you are wrong and if someone admits to YOU that they are wrong, be gracious about it. We all make mistakes; we are all human.

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#4

If the USA could go 4 years without getting into a war/conflict that would be great.

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#5

If Christians made a greater effort to follow the teachings of Christ, I believe things would be better.

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#6

Greet the people in your usual store, thank them, say goodbye when leaving.

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#7

Put a small saucer with a tiny bit of water on it in the garden during hot and dry periods. Bees, bumblebees and other insects will be very grateful.

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#8

There was a girl with a broken leg that fell down the stairs at school. Everyone passed her and didn’t even think to help!
So I went over there to help her even though I was 30 minutes late for my last class. Her mother came to pick her up from school and her mother thanked me and hugged me and all that stuff, and me and the girl have been friends ever since. What I am trying to say is, try to make someone’s day a little better and help as much as you can!

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Donna Leske
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My adult daughter had a slip and fall at Arden Mall in Sacramento 2 months ago (Nov '20). A stranger named Dianne stopped, gathered purse and phone, called 911, and stayed with my daughter HOLDING HER HAND until paramedics arrived. Thank you Dianne.

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#9

It would be great if we all would put ourselves in other organisms shoes, weather it be a human or an animal.

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

[whether]...weather is what we experience when outside. Just FYI.

#10

If breeders would stop dumping animals or giving up on them cuz they are too old. If breeding like that just stopped.

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Freya the Wanderer
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If people would adopt from shelters/pounds, or rescue strays from the street - or go to reputable breeders, or specific breed rescue organizations.

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#11

1) Don't litter. Your mama is not trailing along behind you picking up your messes. 2) Hold a door for a stranger. 3) actually listen when older people speak. And don't assume they are senile, and treat them like children. Don't talk about them when they are right there. 4) Don't judge people too harshly. You don't know what is going on in their lives, or what their history is.

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Marnie
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with all of this, but have a special love for not treating older people as children.

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#12

Don't throw your litter on the floor. If you already don't, pick an extra bit up when you get the chance.

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#13

Parents let your boys cry, and comfort them when they do. So much anger stems from troubles in childhood.
And I do wish more pet parents would take the time to understand the living soul they're responsible for.

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Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Not only parents, just everyone. Also, tall girls as well. Just because one is physiologically big, it doesn't make them brutes (regardless of gender).

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#14

Pay it forward; when doing a favor or helping folks in need, I often ask them to pay it forward instead of pay me back. I have been very fortunate to have friends AND strangers help when life knocked me down, and many of those also only asked that I pay if forward.

Buy the coffee for the stranger in line behind you.

If you see someone having to remove some food from their shopping cart because they are short a few $$, chip in enough to cover.

Put down the phone and drive.

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Taylor McDermott
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Also, volunteering and giving actually can help reduce areas, depression, and anxiety. It releases so many good chemicals in the brain. So, if you can’t move yourself to do it for others to help them, it helps yourself! I work at a food bank (we have people drive up while we load them up all while wearing masks, taking temps, and sanitize our hands after each encounter) and the elated joy and high I feel after is unmatched!

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#15

Treat people the way you would want to be treated. Use good manners with people you dont know. If you see someone being a bully to someone else, stand up to them if you can.

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dandelion moon
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just to note, this does not include standing up to bullies by giving them a taste of their own medicine. If I were being an asshole I would want someone to call me out on my bullshit too.

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#16

-Stay home until Covid 19 is under control and wear a mask
-Don't litter
-Turn off the lights
-Give someone a compliment

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bellaboo36
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

omg the light pollution is getting so much worse and I dont even live in a city. TURN OFF UNNECESSARY LIGHTS!! its not that hard

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#17

Focusing on fixing a fundamental problem instead of the symptoms. Against abortion or high crime rates? Those are symptoms. Create policies that encourage and support families, the fundamental structure of society. Freakanomics theorized that because of Roe vs Wade, there were fewer unwanted children to become society menaces 20 years later and NY state saw its largest drop in crime. But what if those children were wanted and supported from the beginning?

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Taylor McDermott
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh, oh, oh! And speaking of freakinomics, I was reading that when Romania legalized abortion, it reduced the crime by something like 60%! Less children born out of poverty means less people will have to do desperate things to feed the extra mouths.

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#18

Do everything in your power to reduce waste: compost; support zero packaging stores; bring your own bags; buy local, reduce, reuse, recycle; write to companies about excess waste; buy second-hand

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_
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The excess packaging is so rampant, I just detest it.

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#19

Recycle!

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Kendra Miller
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Wash and Recycle. Plastic can only be recycled a limited number of times. Each time it's recycled the plastic polymers get shorter and the quality of the plastic degrade. So We need to employ ALL of the steps, starting with Refusing to spend our money on one use/ disposable crap. If we didn't buy crap, we could reuse which reduces the amount of plastic and crap heading to recycling facilities. Also wash your recyclables! SO much gets tossed because it's gross and contaminated with organic matter. They don't have the time or money to invest in washing everybody's recycling. So they trash it.

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#20

If people would understand that Black Lives Matter

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#21

Being polite

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#22

Vote.

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got to vote the first year the voting age in the U.S. was lowered to 18 (1974) and have never missed an election. One year I voted for President (U.S.) from Bangkok. I don’t vote for offices that have no bearing on my life (school board, for instance), but I read the condensed descriptions of the propositions (and the full text if I can’t make up my mind). There are so many people in the world who have no say in their government that it is incumbent upon those of us who do to make sure we exercise this immense responsibility and immensely rewarding experience.

#23

Help and care about others around you. We all have troubles in our life, that´s for sure, but when , with a minimun gesture (like a smile, or helping someone to carry something, saying a kiddo in tears not to worry, just asking someone in car troubles if they need something....don´t know...there is million ways.....) it help me to forget about my own issues... and that way i don´t think about myself....and therefore i know i can do something good for someone.....for me ,maybe nothing changes, but for sure i´m make the world better for others.

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#24

Try to sincerely be happy when good things happen to others. That way, we all get to celebrate and be happy. This is my answer to jealousy, turn it around and be grateful.

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#25

For people to be more accepting. Not just some people, not even subsets (the way I said that is kinda weird) ALL people. Like lgbtq+ my dad for example accepts most of them. But he only thinks there are 2 genders. I'm disappointed to be honest with you. Accept everyone.

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emilycockroft avatar
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Btw my dad is a nice dude but he doesn't believe that there are more than 2 genders.

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#26

Smiling at strangers and saying hello unprompted.

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Daria B
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sadly, this one depends on the environment. This kind of attitude had me get some unwanted company.

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#27

If you can, give without expecting to be paid back. I was always taught if you lend money to someone, to consider it a gift as you most likely will never be paid back but to still give with a joyful heart and be a light in this very dark world

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_
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got this advice years ago, it is still one of my favorite "life hacks".

#28

Be gracious.
Be a gracious host and a gracious guest.
Be a gracious winner and a gracious loser.
Be gracious when providing a compliment or a criticism.
Be gracious when receiving a compliment or a criticism.
Be gracious as a giver and as a recipient.

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#29

I think kindness and taking responsibility, people are always blaming each other, and when they see a problem they ignore it! Be kinda it’s not stooping down! It’s being a good human!

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Kendra Miller
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It takes more strength to be gentle and kind then it does to be hard and mean.

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#30

people using their common sense and listening to science

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#31

Kindness, being/staying clean all the time, realizing the concept of safety first.

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Helen Haley
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm torn. What do you mean by being/staying clean? Who are you including in that? Safety first, do you mean that in the OSHA sense of safety, or are you referring to blaming a victim when something happens to them. ie, they shouldn't have been there in the first place?

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#32

Paying everybody a living wage

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Kendra Miller
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would love to hear other people's opinion. I recently heard about an idea called guaranteed jobs, this was used successfully in Nigeria(?). The idea is that every community will identify jobs that they would like, or need to be done. This would be backed by the federal government like disaster relief is. So when a catastrophe happens and people lose their jobs, they can go to their municipality and request an assignment. They would be paid a living wage, with health care coverage. They would be trained for the job, such as installing solar panels or installing better ventilation in older buildings. When a person looses their job, they begin to cut back on expenses. When people stop buying stuff and eating out, it harms other industries and they will have to let people go. So by continuing to pay people, it's stops the infection of unemployment from spreading. It helps the private sector as much as the people who lost their jobs. When the economy recovers,

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#33

Smiles

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#34

Air-dropped packages of crayons. Basic 8 or 16 color set. Everyone is happy with crayons, we all just forget about it and think it's "childish" after a certain age.

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Ravenwolf
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Right? What defines childish at this point? I don't care what others say; I want to stay a kid as long as I can

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#35

Please remind yourself often; when you come across a person who isn't all sunshine they may be going through something you don't understand. It is a dark gray place and you can never undo it. It is the death of a child, spouse, close friend, or dearly loved pet.
There is really no explaining it, this death changes you the living. You cope as best you can but there may well be moments of anger, rudeness, numbness, blankness, crying, and even excessive laughing. It happens, emotions are complicated. Remember, someday you will cry over someone, and someday some will cry over you. Be kind.

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Mary Rose Kent
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And some of us have bad brain chemistry that makes the world a difficult place. Some have bad brain chemistry that doesn’t allow them to interpret the world as a safe place (I have a schizophrenic nephew for whom this is true). And most importantly, remember that kindness is its own reward. Truly and sincerely it is.

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#36

A tiny thing that would make the world better is world peace, death of trump, racism ending, sexism ending, and if someone tracks down Epstiens murderer, and give them a cookie and a gold star.

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#37

Choose to foster or adopt a rescue/shelter pet instead of getting one from a breeder. There are so so many animals without a home, many at risk of being euthanized. There is such a variety of animals in rescue organizations and shelters, you can find one that meets any criteria you have! There are too many animals, and not enough homes, please don’t support breeders, especially puppy mills and backyard breeders.

My dog is from a shelter and everyday I feel lucky to have her in my life

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Ozacoter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Adopting should always be the first option. But we need to remember that sometimes is just not a possible one. For example if you are allergic to dogs (like a friend of mine) you need specific breeds (like poodle) and it might no be possible to find them in a shelter. In our case for example we adopted our first dog but she is scared of unknown adult dogs, so if we want a second dog we will need to buy one because where we live there are (luckily) very little shelters and dogs and they are usually adults.

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#38

Be always yourself, don´t pretend to be what you aren´t, be honest and be modest.

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#39

Clean up after yourself. Wherever you are.

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Kate Pappas
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3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

My Mom taught me that when you stay with someone, then leave, the only thing you should leave behind are nice memories...and the small gift with which you arrive.

#40

+ Bank-style lines in every store.

+ Put the entire message together in a single instance-messaging app (instead of typing one sentence, hit enter, another, hit enter....so that you have to keep watching and then guess when they're done typing.)

+ Show compassion for public-facing workers who have to try to act cheerful even on their worst of days, when going through a divorce, when mourning, etc.

+ Never give words of advice to try to comfort someone who is mourning. Just say you're sorry, you're there for them, and do what they need. You can't take their pain away by some inspirational message.

+ Let me always remove the link from your dryer screen, because it's the most fun thing in the world :-)

+ People should rapidly get up to speed when entering the highway to allow those behind to both get up to speed and increase their distance from one another. (Would reduce traffic congestion quite a bit.)

+ People should zipper-merge when entering the highway (instead of all coming in a huge clump).

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#41

Stop fishing for self worth by posting/tweeting about how the best part of your day is when your kid falls/fails/hurts themselves. This doesn’t make you a hip parent, it makes you a narcissist at your child’s expense. Be better.

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#42

If people would stop taking every second of their lives for granted. If everyone were to live as if every day were their last, I personally believe the world would be a much kinder, optimistic place.

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#43

Don’t put dogs always as boi when you don’t know their gender

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#44

I think the small thing that would make the world better is TRUTH. Many problems can substantially be alleviated by telling the whole truth. Cuss words are of no value in a conversation of any sort. One old saw that is pure truth: if you can't say something good, keep your mouth shut. PS ... Life is better with a smile above your mask, in your eyes.

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Taylor McDermott
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree with you to a point. However, it has been proven that people that cuss are usually more honest. Plus, usually it is just to accentuate a point. Like people that misuse the word “literally” to emphasize what they are saying. I trusting people that curse more because they aren’t editing themselves therefore aren’t editing the truth

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#45

okay we all know what we want first no karens anymore like yeah they make the drama but being rude to other people like that's wrong 2 just wear a mask 3 don't do anything mean

PLEASE

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Kate Pappas
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I hate that the name KAREN has become a 'thing" and no, my name isn't KAREN. I just think it's stupid.

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#46

A place without money struggles.
Concept: No more money. people are depressed cuz they poor. People who do the terrible jobs get little tickets that give them better things. example: garbageman gets first class on flights for 5 tickets.

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Kendra Miller
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Money is a tool, you are suggesting that these tickets take money's place. Money is not evil of it's own right. It's is just used by people will a lot to do bad things. Money helps people get what they want and need on a very basic level. Before money we had a trade system. If you had a cow and you wanted to exchange it for 2 pigs. You would have to find someone willing to make that trade with you. What if there was only one person willing to trade 2 pigs, but he doesn't want a cow, he wants 10 chickens. So now you have to find someone willing to trade 10 chickens for your cow, to trade the chickens for the pigs. Without money things get very complicated fast. What we need is a living wage, that accounts for the cost of food, housing and transportation. Simple. Also I've heard garbage people are actually quite well paid, for a job you doesn't require a post-secondary degree.

#47

PLEASE adopt instead of breed! There is no difference in the love that the pet can give you, and breeding pets just puts more and more pets on the streets. Also neuter and spay.

Don't use too much social media. I'm not saying that you should comepletly cut yourslef off, but sometimes you need to have a break, especailly when someone is putting others or you down. I know a whole lot of people are going to be yelling at me in the comments for this one, but sometimes its true.

Repsect others needs. If someone needs to be alone, let them be alone. If someone doesn't want to talk about it, then don't talk about it.

Don't waste. Wasting is a problem, wether it be food or just everyday items. Everything you waste is ending up in landfills when it could be helping people that actually need it.

I know a lot of people said this already, but don't litter. It's just like wasting, except instead of the landfill, it ends up on the street.

WEAR YOUR MASK! I have seen how much it helps. It can literally be the thing that decides life or death. So please, until COVID-19 is under control again, wear your mask.

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#48

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