Congratulations to This Season’s Winners

At Marketplace Events we love our friends, fans, and followers. And to help show how much we appreciate and value your support, we hold a series of giveaways on several different channels (via Facebook, email, on our websites, and more) every year. Congratulations to the winners of this season’s giveaways!

• Velena Adams, Scotts Snaps Sweepstakes (Minneapolis Home + Garden Show) 
• Christy Coates, Scotts Snaps Sweepstakes (Facebook)
• Lauren Gerber, Smart Home Sweepstakes (Winnipeg Home + Garden Show) 
• Emily Hall, Scotts Snaps Sweepstakes (Des Moines Home + Outdoor Living Show) 
• Brian Henderson, Scotts Snaps Sweepstakes (Capital Remodel + Garden Show) 
• Bridget Nagle, $500 Smart Home Sweepstakes 
• Rosemary Norton, $250 Post-Show Consumer Survey 
• Pavel Posrednikov, $500 Smart Home Sweepstakes 
• David Stone, Scotts Snaps Sweepstakes (Cleveland Home + Remodeling Expo) 
• Regina Shepherd, Scotts Snaps Sweepstakes (Raleigh Home Show) 
• Patricia Taylor, $500 Smart Home Sweepstakes 
• Kevin Troio, $250 Post-Show Consumer Survey 
• Cynthia Toupin, $500 Smart Home Sweepstakes 
• Sharon Underwood, $500 Smart Home Sweepstakes 

We hope our home shows have helped to inspire you to spruce up your space and that the prizes you’ve won will allow you to do so. Want to see your name on that list next season? Make sure to follow us on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. Stay tuned to see what our next giveaway will be (hint: it’s a doozy!).

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FREE Prizes, Giveaways & Musical Performances You Don’t Want to Miss!

Be the first to experience the highly-anticipated return of the NOLA Home Show, which will fill Hall I of the Convention Center with remodeling and home improvement ideas, interior design advice, cooking demonstrations, DIY tips and activities, interactive seminars, and the hottest new products for your bath, home and garden, Friday, Jan. 15 – Sunday, Jan. 17.

Not only will you be the first of your family and friends to be in tuned with all-things home and garden related, you will get the chance to win prizes, giveaways and experience features you won’t want to miss! Special features include:

1. Hero Day - One of the nation’s top museums partners with NOLA Home Show to host Hero Day on Friday, January 15. All are invited to enjoy a musical performance by The National WWII Museum’s Victory Belles and see a piece of history as the museum showcases a WWII Jeep in the NOLA Home Show. All active and retired military, first responders, and teachers can attend the NOLA Home Show for free with proof of ID on Friday only!

2. The National World War II Museum Victory Belles - A performance by The National WWII Museum’s charming vocal trio, the Victory Belles, will take you on a nostalgic journey through World War II-era musical classics. Don’t miss this spirited performance on the Williams-Sonoma Home & Cooking Stage at 1 pm on Friday, Jan. 15!

3. Contests and Promotions

• Meet-and-Greet with HGTV’s Matt Muenster – COX presents an exclusive meet-and-greet with HGTV’s Bath Crashers star Matt Muenster. The contest also includes a $300 home improvement gift card! Register to enter the contest here.
• Win $500 in Gift Cards from Marketplace Events – Transform your home with $250 to Home Depot and $250 to Best Buy. Get what you need to make your home more tech savvy, efficient and beautiful with five chances to win $500! NOLA Home Show will announce a winner a day from March 21 – 25, 2016. Clickhere for a chance to win!
• Summit 50 K2 Cooler Giveaway – Stop by LifestyleAppliances at booths 1129 and 1131 for a chance to win a Summit 50 K2 Cooler, a high-quality ice retention cooler for all activities. Designed to lock in the cold, this ice vault is worth more than $250.
• Crawfish Boil Equipment Giveaway – Check out RestorePros Remediation Services at booth 1115 for a chance to win your very own stand-up wooden cooler and handmade crawfish paddles, all items to help you throw an unforgettable crawfish boil.  

The NOLA Home Show takes over the New Orleans Convention Center January 15-17, 2016. With hundreds of home improvement experts and professionals ready to help with your next home project, it's a must attend event for New Orleans homeowners.

Don't have tickets yet? Save big when you buy online! Right now you can get 2-for-1 tickets when you connect with us on Facebook. Click here to access this exclusive discount.

NEW ORLEANS CONVENTION CENTER
JANUARY 15-17, 2016.

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Hank Daddy's BBQ: Pulled Pork Parfait Recipe

Image via www.hankdaddysbbq.com

Can’t wait to taste test Hank Daddy’s BBQ at the GTA Home Show? Look no further – here’s a surefire hit recipe for your home kitchen from pitmaster Frank Caputo.

RECIPE: Pulled Pork Parfait

Serves 10-12

• 1 pork butt (8-12 lbs)
• ½ C Hank Daddy’s Original Barbecue Rub
• 1 C Hank Daddy’s Original Barbecue Sauce
• 10 large white potatoes
• 4 tbsp butter
• Salt & pepper to taste

Pork:

• Apply dry rub to the meat liberally. In a smoker, cook the seasoned meat until the internal temperature of the meat reaches 190-195 degrees F, somewhere between 10-12 hours. Remove the cooked butt from the smoker and allow it to settle for an hour in a roasting pan. This will allow you to preserve the au jus, or natural juices, from the meat. Remove the bone with a simple quarter turn and a pull, then discard it. The bone should come out very easily if the meat is cooked. If it doesn’t come out easily, that means the meat is undercooked. With a fork in each hand, begin to pull the meat apart until completely pulled. Add sauce.

Potatoes:

• Wash and peel potatoes, cut into quarters. Add potatoes to a large pot of water and bring to a boil. Remove potatoes when they are fork-tender. Mash with a potato masher until you have a smooth consistency. Add butter, salt and white pepper.

Serve layered in a martini glass, champagne glass or plain old water glass. Start with pulled pork on the bottom, barbecue sauce and a scoop of mashed potatoes. Repeat until glass is full.

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FEBRUARY 20-23, 2014

For 2-for-1 tickets to the show click here!

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Must-See Exhibitors: Our Top Picks at the BC Home + Garden Show *EXCLUSIVE GIVEAWAY*

The BC Home + Garden Show is on now, and this year’s line-up of amazing exhibitors is gearing up to deliver the latest and greatest in home improvement and entertaining! To add to the brimming excitement, our top exhibitor picks have generously agreed to give away some of their most popular products right here on the show blog. Remember that reno you meant to get started on, last spring? Or that sad empty wall that you swore to buy a piece of art for before the New Year? These prizes are sure to get the home improvement ball rolling and give those long overdue renovations the final kick they need.

Check out this year’s must-see exhibitors and enter to win an amazing prize all in one easy step by clicking the button below!

Click here to enter the giveaway!

EXHIBITOR #1

Who: KANDY Outdoor Flooring

What: Installation of high-quality outdoor flooring for condo balconies

Claim to Fame: Full inclusion. KANDY’s services begin with a free in-home consultation and include all necessary shipping, delivery, installation, customization, clean-up and maintenance services in their all-inclusive packages.

Up for Grabs: A $200 gift card to Iron Accents Home & Garden

EXHIBITOR #2

Who: K2Roofing

What: Residential roofing, commercial roofing, roof repairs and new roof construction

Claim to Fame: The team. The highly skilled, professional team of K2’s journeymen provide the service, maintenance, and customization needed to protect every family’s most valuable asset – their home.

Up for Grabs: A one-year roofing maintenance program valued at $250, with maintenance including full-service cleaning, inspection, treatment and moss removal

EXHIBITOR #3

Who: Jamie Banfield Design

What: Interior design and consultation on projects of all sizes

Claim to Fame: Creative novelty. Jamie always manages to delight clients with his fresh and enduring designs, creative solutions and sustainable sourcing. Don't miss Jamie’s presentations at the BC Home + Garden Show on Friday, February 21 at 6PM and Sunday, February 23 at 2PM on the HGTV Main Stage!

Up for Grabs: An in-home design consultation valued at $250, including advice and counsel on design, decorating, re-design and renovations

EXHIBITOR #4

Who: Duradek

What: Waterproofing system for roof decks, sundecks, balconies, patios and verandas

Claim to Fame: Industry leadership. With 2014 marking their 40^th year in the business, Duradek has a lot to celebrate with one of the finest deck waterproofing systems in the world and an impressive 10-year warranty on all products.

Up for Grabs: A stylish men’s melton and nubuck leather bomber jacket valued at $250, from Canada Sportswear

EXHIBITOR #5

Who: Your Reno Crew

What: A full-service residential and commercial renovation company dedicated to designing outdoor living spaces

Claim to Fame: Breaking the mold. The YardCave philosophy rejects conventional thinking by not adhering to the popular "cookie cutter" modular design of outdoor kitchens – think customization like you’ve never seen it before!

Up for Grabs: A Jackson Grills Versa 100 stainless steel tabletop grill valued at $400

EXHIBITOR #6

Who: The Great Canadian Picnic Table

What: Custom-designed, hand-made picnic tables available in any length and wood colour – delivery and installation included

Claim to Fame: Solid and study. The base and supports designed for these tables are as durable as they come; these custom-made picnic tables are literally un-tippable!

Up for Grabs: A 6-foot custom table with delivery and installation included, total value $400

EXHIBITOR #7

Who: Leilani The Artist

What: Landscapes, animals and abstracts in acrylics and oil, offered on canvas, paper, wood and art cards

Claim to Fame: Nature internalized. Leilani draws all of her inspiration from her natural surroundings; she soaks up the beauty of the world around her and pours it onto the canvas to create her one-of-a kind pieces.

Up for Grabs: A Bluetrees Limited Edition canvas print measuring 3' x 1' and mounted onto stretcher bars, total value $250

EXHIBITOR #8

 

Who: BathTime Innovations

What: Replaces old tubs and showers with glass doors and accessories to match your home’s décor in just one day, guaranteed

Claim to Fame: Social conscience. A proud supporter of the BC Housing Hafi Government Grant Program, BathTime Innovations offers a wide variety of products and solutions for seniors and individuals with mobility issues.

Up for Grabs: A H2Flo Handheld Unit Package complete with a fixed multi-jet shower head, multi-jet hand shower with flexible hose, 3-way diverter and side bar for easy adjustability of the hand shower, total value $275

EXHIBITOR #9

Who: Walltek Storage

What: Versatile and convenient storage solutions

Claim to Fame: Mind-easing durability. The life of Walltek products is guaranteed – all products come with a 10 year warranty to deliver extra peace of mind needed to maintain focus on the bigger things.

Up for Grabs: A Walltek Starter Kit valued at $608.99, which comes fully equipped with one 40 Square Foot Panel, two hours of installation labour, and all the necessary baskets, hooks and racks!

Click here to enter the giveaway! 

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FEBRUARY 19-23, 2014

BC PLACE STADIUM

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Budding Knowledge: The Vancouver Sun Gardeners’ School & Giveaway!

Growing pains, begone! Whether you've achieved status as a self-proclaimed gardening guru or still find yourself floundering with your florals, The Vancouver Sun Gardeners’ School at the upcoming BC Home + Garden Show will offer tips and tricks, advice and assistance pertinent to all levels of planter proficiency.

Led by The Vancouver Sun gardening editor Steve Whysall and his team of green thumbs, the daily seminars taking place on the Gardeners’ School Stage will guide both budding and accomplished horticulturists through the nitty-gritty of plant growing, without the grimy clean-up that normally follows. Featuring experienced horticulturalists like Wim Vander Zalm of CKNW’s Garden Talk, Nicolas Rousseau & Fred Collay of ByNature (see below for a great gardening giveway!) and Elke Wehinger & Pam Dangelmaier of Botanus Group, the free seminars will cover every topic from seeding to composting, right under the dome of BC Place Stadium.

Whether your ideal garden is efficiently edible or extravagantly exotic, The Vancouver Sun Gardeners’ School is the friendly shoulder your future garden will be glad you leaned on. Dig in!

To view the entire Vancouver SunGardening School schedule click here.

.: GIVEAWAY :. 

Win a WallFlower Living Frame valued at $79!

The WallFlower Living Frame is a living work of art that overflows with plants, flowers and style. Find out more click here. 

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Get to Know Artemano, Furnishings @ The GTA Home Show ...*$500 Giveaway*

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY BELOW

The GTA Home Show opens next Thursday, and we can't wait! We've got inspiration at every turn, specifically in our feature home!  Beautifully furnished by Artemano, every room will showcase clean lines, natural materials, and one-of-a-kind silhouettes.  Get to know Artemano now, and enter to win a $500 gift card to the store simply by tweeting. Details below...

How did your company get started?

Years ago, founder Shimon travelled abroad where, for the first time, he set his eyes on freeform wood tables and stunning furniture made of natural, often recycled materials similar to what we see in our stores today. He instantly connected with these one-of-a-kind pieces and knew it was something he would be passionate about sharing.

What are your products/services?

Artemano focuses on handmade, high-quality furniture made mostly out of different types of beautiful wood.  Many of our pieces have a one-of-a-kind silhouette and unrefined design that comes straight from nature. All distinct features, including knots, cracks and crevices, are carefully preserved and cherished.  Many people don’t know that Artemano offers an in-home interior design service that you can take advantage of either before or after your purchase - you decide!

What is your company’s mantra?

“Home is an escape and we love to create it” . We believe that your home is the one place you should be able to go to truly relax. Incorporating organic furniture that you love is one of the best ways to achieve serenity.

What are your home and
garden pet peeves?

The old saying “less is more” is most definitely a belief of ours, so our design pet peeve is clutter.  Too much furniture or too many decorative accessories overwhelms any space and creates energy less conducive to tranquility.

What are your top 3 home and garden tips for this season?

1. Opposites attract; mix warm and cold pieces, modern and rustic styling, bright and dull colors.
2. Liven up any space for spring with plants and flowers for a fresh, bright zone.
3. Quality over quantity. Instead of over accessorizing your home, choose a few pieces that best represent you and your space to be the focal point.

What is the weirdest client request you have ever received?

After looking at a rocking horse displayed in one of our stores, a customer asked if we has the same piece but with the horse holding a spear in one of its hands.  We did not.

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ENTER NOW: Artemano is giving you a chance to WIN a $500 to their store! 

___________________________________________________________

DETAILS: First, follow both the GTA Home Show & Artemano on Twitter. 

Follow @HomeShowsTO Follow @ArtemanoQc

To enter you must ...

Click the button below and tell us which room you would use the $500 gift card to furnish!

Tweet to @ArtemanoQc

For example...

"@ArtemanoQc @HomeShowsTO #GTAHomeShow I would use the $500 gift card to furnish my living room!" 

Giveaway ends Febryary 23 @ 11:59 p.m. ET

  Valid for Ontario residents only. 

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Sizzling on Stage: Vancouver’s top chefs to dish it out at the BC Home + Garden Show

Calling all foodies! The Urban Fare Cooking Stage at the BC Home + Garden Show, presented by FortisBC and Western Living, is set to showcase cooking demonstrations as diverse and distinct as the headlining chefs themselves. Arrive with an appetite, because four lucky attendees at each demonstration will also get to sample the still-sizzling, signature creations first-hand.

Better yet? We’re giving away more than $1,000 in prizes from our chefs! Read through the exciting line-up and check out the items up for grabs. With 11 prizes there's something for every foodie on this list!

CLICK TO ENTER

Don’t miss the dish from the city’s top chefs, starting Wednesday, February 19 at BC Place! Click here for a first look at the skilled culinarians we’re welcoming to the Urban Fare Cooking Stage.

CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL STAGE SCHEDULE.

Whatever your fancy, the array of talent appearing on the Urban Fare Cooking Stage is not to be missed. Revive stunted stovetop activity just in time for spring, thanks to expert advice and show-stopping creations sure to leave your lips buzzing and your mouth watering!

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Vancouver Exhibitor Spotlight: Smart Garage

Exhibitors from all over are gearing up for the Vancouver Home + Design Show, which kicks off in less than two weeks! In celebration of the arrival of this popular lifestyle exhibit, we are offering giveaways from the generous exhibitors and sponsors right here on the blog.

:: GIVEAWAY ::

Smart Garage has put a $200 gift certificate up for grabs, good for both products and services. All you have to do is fill out a short form here to enter to win this hot ticket, as well as a host of additional prizes from other exhibitors and sponsors.

Smart Garage Door Ltd. is the only roll up garage door manufacturer in North America providing custom rollup overhead doors to BC residents and businesses. Smart Garage believes the unsurpassed durability, safety, and security of their product will exceed your expectations; it’s the company motto, after all. Featured on the PNE Prize Home for the past two years, Smart Garage’s stunning Roll-Up-Door is in high demand across Canada and as far south as Los Angeles.

Hire Smart Garage and you’ll have a unique, brand new garage door installed in 30 minutes to an hour. Smart Garage’s Roll-Up-Door is manufactured with the best materials and can come equipped with a ten year warranty.

We sat down with a representative from Smart Garage to learn more about

 their company and innovative garage door.

How did your company get started?

Smart Garage was established in Canada in January 2012. The product was invented in Australia in 1956 and discovered by the Canadian founding member in 2006. We introduced the door to the public and it became a huge success at the BC Home and Garden show in 2008. After four years of development and re-engineering for the Canadian market, a new partnership took over the manufacturing and distribution of the product in Canada.

What inspires Smart Garage when making doors?

We’re inspired by a drive to make life easier, safer and hassle free for our clients. Our commitment to quality craftsmanship and local production establishes a foundation to create a unique product that is reliable and stands out from the competition.

Why choose Smart Garage products?

Traditional doors have hinges, wheels, cables and springs that constantly break and need repair. 80% of most garage doors companies’ business is service! We would never buy any other product in the world knowing that most other companies do more service calls than sales. It’s about time we had a garage door that made sense. More and more people are realizing what the rest of the world already knows, the Roll-Up-Door is the smartest choice in garage doors, hands down.

What is your favourite part of the Vancouver Home + Design Show?

Smart Garage has been involved in the Vancouver Home + Design Show for two years. We’re looking forward to meeting homeowners face to face and sharing our knowledge to help personalize their home while increasing their garage functionality. We are lucky to be a part of a flourishing community of quality homecare vendors. We are always eager to “talk shop” and build relationships at the Vancouver Home + Design Show, or in any place for that matter!

To learn more about Smart Garage check out their website, follow them on Twitter and find them on Facebook. Click here to fill out a short form for a chance to win a $200 gift certificate from Smart Garage. Click here for more information about more contests and giveaways happening at the Vancouver Home + Design Show.

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Meet the Smart Garage team for yourself by purchasing tickets online today and save get two for the price of one!  

For 2-for-1 tickets to the show order HERE and save today! 

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Vancouver Exhibitor Spotlight: Atlas Pots, The place for planters!

If you have a green thumb you’re going to love Atlas Pots’ booth at the Vancouver Home + Design Show, happening next weekend at BC Place Stadium. Known as “the place for planters,” Atlas Pots has a mandate of bringing you high-quality, durable, contemporary planters. We’re tilling the soil of Vancouver’s ultimate design, entertaining and home improvement showcase with a giveaway on our website.

:: GIVEAWAY ::

Click here to enter to win two stone-coloured eco-resin Francis Vase planters valued at $330 from Atlas Pots. These environmentally friendly planters, made from resin, ground stone and jute fiber, are any garden aficionados dream come true!

We sat down with Maninder Tennessey from Atlas Pots to learn more about the company and their products.

Tell us how Atlas Pots started.

We started in early 2006 with the opening of our first location in Point Grey. My husband Tarie and I came across a ceramic-only planter store and we were both inspired by the uptapped possibilities of container gardening in Vancouver. Through trial and error, Tarie and I developed our products into what they are today – sleek, sustainable and highly functional. However, we never stop experimenting! The process still continues with our sights set on new materials, shapes and colours specific to fall and spring 2014.

What inspires Atlas Pots?

We are inspired to create a great product that helps people enjoy their homes. We love to assist our clients in putting together beautiful outdoor spaces and gardens.

How many years have you been involved with the Vancouver Home + Design Show and what is your favourite part?

We have been a part of the Vancouver Home + Design Show since 2009. Whether we are showcasing the planters or other exhibitors are, Atlas Pots is always present at the show in some form or another. We always look forward to the adrenaline rush that comes during the frenzy of setting up for the show. Most importantly, we can’t wait to show visitors our quality products.

How would you describe Atlas Pots in just three words?

Stylish, durable and lightweight.

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Stop by the Atlas Pots booth at the Vancouver Home + Design Show to learn more about their amazing products. Purchase your tickets online today and save $3 off regular adult admission.

Stay up-to-date with Atlas Pots and their preparations for the show by finding them on Twitter and Facebook or by checking out their website.

For 2-for-1 tickets to the show order HERE and save today! 

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Vancouver Exhibitor Spotlight: Le fil rouge Textiles *Bonus Giveaway*

Exhibitors from all over will be showcasing the latest trends in design, entertaining and home improvement at the Vancouver Home + Design Show, happening next weekend from Thursday to Sunday. Among the 325+ exhibitors is Le fil rouge Textiles, an independent design house for unique, natural textiles and accessories.

:: GIVEAWAY ::

Le fil rouge Textiles is so looking forward to showcasing at BC Place Stadium that the Vancouver-based company is giving away one of their coveted baby alpaca woven blankets, valued at $245, on our show website! This cozy, stylish throw is perfect for keeping warm over the winter, so click here for your chance to win!

Le fil rouge Textiles aims to bring comfort, beauty and inspiration to life through authentic, sustainable materials and charming designs. Founder and designer Ellen Walde chose the name, French for “the red thread”, because of its many connotations throughout different cultures.

Le fil rouge Textiles currently offers three collections. The alpaca collection of luxurious scarves and blankets. A linen collection of tea towels, bath sheets and throws made in Vancouver. Last but not least, a limited edition collection of hand printed linen or silk table runners created in Ellen's studio. 

We sat down with Ellen Walde to learn more about Le fil rouge Textiles and what inspires her designs.

Tell about how Le fil rouge Textiles came to be.

My company is the realization of a lifelong passion for natural fibres. I have always been attracted to the tactile appeal of beautiful cloth and fibres since learning to knit as a child growing up in Germany. I studied weaving, sculpture and Art Therapy and after moving to Canada in 1987, I continued my studies in textile art. Le fil rouge was launched in 2012. 

Why did you start Le fil rouge Textiles?

I wanted to make unique, natural textile accessories more available and accessible. We cover our body in fabric almost 24 hours a day and there are lots of chemicals in those fabrics. The linen and baby alpaca fibers used in all Le fil rouge Textiles products are sustainable and eco-friendly.

What inspires you when designing for Le fil rouge Textiles?

Unpretentious luxury! I am inspired by nature, my travels and everything around me. Many things can spark my imagination and sometimes it begins with the material itself. I am influenced by the casual sophistication of European aesthetics, sustainability and ethical business practices. 

How many years have you been involved with the Vancouver Home + Design Show?

This is my first year participating in the show and I am looking forward to meeting everyone. I can’t wait to share my passion for beautiful textiles. 

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See and feel Le fil rouge Textiles for yourself at the Vancouver Home + Design Show. Purchase your tickets online today and save $3 off regular adult admission.  Find Le fil rouge Textiles on Facebook or check out their website for more information. For more chances to win, click here! 

For 2-for-1 tickets to the show order HERE and save today! 

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