think of your favorite comedian any comedian and keep that in your head for
comedian and keep that in your head for
comedian and keep that in your head for just a bit while I talk laughter is the
just a bit while I talk laughter is the
just a bit while I talk laughter is the best medicine this is a lovely saying
best medicine this is a lovely saying
best medicine this is a lovely saying that choose to make light of negative
that choose to make light of negative
that choose to make light of negative situations however the creator of this
situations however the creator of this
situations however the creator of this passive remark forgot one important
passive remark forgot one important
passive remark forgot one important detail when people say this phrase you
detail when people say this phrase you
detail when people say this phrase you see when the joke is made by a woman
see when the joke is made by a woman
see when the joke is made by a woman suddenly a bunch of ailments occur when
suddenly a bunch of ailments occur when
suddenly a bunch of ailments occur when a woman makes a joke suddenly a bunch of
a woman makes a joke suddenly a bunch of
a woman makes a joke suddenly a bunch of adjectives and categories get pinned on
adjectives and categories get pinned on
adjectives and categories get pinned on her just because she’s trying to be
her just because she’s trying to be
her just because she’s trying to be funny a woman must suddenly be funny but
funny a woman must suddenly be funny but
funny a woman must suddenly be funny but not vulgar slapstick but not sloppy
not vulgar slapstick but not sloppy
not vulgar slapstick but not sloppy pretty but not unordinary you see a
pretty but not unordinary you see a
pretty but not unordinary you see a woman is suddenly pinned into a lot of
woman is suddenly pinned into a lot of
woman is suddenly pinned into a lot of categories with a lot of details put on
categories with a lot of details put on
categories with a lot of details put on her just because she’s trying to make a
her just because she’s trying to make a
her just because she’s trying to make a joke I simply call this being
joke I simply call this being
joke I simply call this being pigeon-holed a pigeonhole according to
pigeon-holed a pigeonhole according to
pigeon-holed a pigeonhole according to Webster’s dictionary as a neat category
Webster’s dictionary as a neat category
Webster’s dictionary as a neat category that fails to reflect actual
that fails to reflect actual
that fails to reflect actual complexities essentially women in comedy
complexities essentially women in comedy
complexities essentially women in comedy are being pigeon-holed that comedian you
are being pigeon-holed that comedian you
are being pigeon-holed that comedian you thought of you probably thought of a
thought of you probably thought of a
thought of you probably thought of a male right I mean I do when I think of
male right I mean I do when I think of
male right I mean I do when I think of the people that are my role models in
the people that are my role models in
the people that are my role models in comedy I often think of men but what
comedy I often think of men but what
comedy I often think of men but what about women what about women comedians
about women what about women comedians
about women what about women comedians are so many of their I mean look at Amy
are so many of their I mean look at Amy
are so many of their I mean look at Amy Poehler Tina Fey and Ellen DeGeneres
Poehler Tina Fey and Ellen DeGeneres
Poehler Tina Fey and Ellen DeGeneres wonderful women comedians out there who
wonderful women comedians out there who
wonderful women comedians out there who are making an impact but they have
are making an impact but they have
are making an impact but they have adjectives pinned on them such as blonde
adjectives pinned on them such as blonde
adjectives pinned on them such as blonde quirky and lesbian in no particular
quirky and lesbian in no particular
quirky and lesbian in no particular order
order
order [Music]
[Music]
[Music] these women are automatically put into a
these women are automatically put into a
these women are automatically put into a category just because they’re trying to
category just because they’re trying to
category just because they’re trying to be funny a lot of people say when I hear
be funny a lot of people say when I hear
be funny a lot of people say when I hear them talking about comedians they’re
them talking about comedians they’re
them talking about comedians they’re often like oh they’re too much or too
often like oh they’re too much or too
often like oh they’re too much or too sexual or two in my face or just my
sexual or two in my face or just my
sexual or two in my face or just my taste not my taste like we’re describing
taste not my taste like we’re describing
taste not my taste like we’re describing some side dish at a restaurant or a
some side dish at a restaurant or a
some side dish at a restaurant or a wedding venue for our friends not my
wedding venue for our friends not my
wedding venue for our friends not my taste these are people making their
taste these are people making their
taste these are people making their careers out of this but it’s just not
careers out of this but it’s just not
careers out of this but it’s just not our taste so I’ve dissected this taste
our taste so I’ve dissected this taste
our taste so I’ve dissected this taste we have four female comedians and I’ve
we have four female comedians and I’ve
we have four female comedians and I’ve come up with two apparent flavors two
come up with two apparent flavors two
come up with two apparent flavors two different categories for women to be put
different categories for women to be put
different categories for women to be put into these are the overly feminized and
into these are the overly feminized and
into these are the overly feminized and the overly masculine eyes be overly
the overly masculine eyes be overly
the overly masculine eyes be overly feminized these are female comedians
feminized these are female comedians
feminized these are female comedians that must be women in order to be funny
that must be women in order to be funny
that must be women in order to be funny they are often with pretty with a low IQ
they are often with pretty with a low IQ
they are often with pretty with a low IQ they talk about nail salon
they talk about nail salon
they talk about nail salon misunderstandings dumb boyfriends
misunderstandings dumb boyfriends
misunderstandings dumb boyfriends self-doubt escapades of the gym they
self-doubt escapades of the gym they
self-doubt escapades of the gym they must look sexy and pretty on stage in
must look sexy and pretty on stage in
must look sexy and pretty on stage in order to sell tickets these are women
order to sell tickets these are women
order to sell tickets these are women such as Mindy Kaling Jenny slate Ellie
such as Mindy Kaling Jenny slate Ellie
such as Mindy Kaling Jenny slate Ellie Kemper and iliza shlesinger having to
Kemper and iliza shlesinger having to
Kemper and iliza shlesinger having to look like that in order to sell tickets
look like that in order to sell tickets
look like that in order to sell tickets be overly feminized they’re really
be overly feminized they’re really
be overly feminized they’re really masculine eyes is on the other side of
masculine eyes is on the other side of
masculine eyes is on the other side of the scale these are women who equate men
the scale these are women who equate men
the scale these are women who equate men to be funny they are in your face or
to be funny they are in your face or
to be funny they are in your face or brass their crash their unabashedly
brass their crash their unabashedly
brass their crash their unabashedly sexual they talk about one-night stands
sexual they talk about one-night stands
sexual they talk about one-night stands and drunken escapades throughout the
and drunken escapades throughout the
and drunken escapades throughout the cities they are simply matching a male’s
cities they are simply matching a male’s
cities they are simply matching a male’s humor in order to be funny these are
humor in order to be funny these are
humor in order to be funny these are women such as Sarah Silverman Amy
women such as Sarah Silverman Amy
women such as Sarah Silverman Amy Schumer Chelsea Chelsea Handler Lena
Schumer Chelsea Chelsea Handler Lena
Schumer Chelsea Chelsea Handler Lena Dunham and Leslie Jones the over
Dunham and Leslie Jones the over
Dunham and Leslie Jones the over masculinized so we have these two
masculinized so we have these two
masculinized so we have these two categories for women to be pigeonholed
categories for women to be pigeonholed
categories for women to be pigeonholed into i also am being pigeon-holed
I’m on the improv troupe here at Furman
I’m on the improv troupe here at Furman improv is a fast style of comedy and
improv is a fast style of comedy and
improv is a fast style of comedy and which you make up humor on the spot
which you make up humor on the spot
which you make up humor on the spot there is no script no nothing you just
there is no script no nothing you just
there is no script no nothing you just go out there and do impromptu theatre
go out there and do impromptu theatre
go out there and do impromptu theatre will be demonstrating this later this
will be demonstrating this later this
will be demonstrating this later this afternoon but in improv I found that
afternoon but in improv I found that
afternoon but in improv I found that whenever I want to alter a scene or
whenever I want to alter a scene or
whenever I want to alter a scene or dominate a scene I enter the stage as a
dominate a scene I enter the stage as a
dominate a scene I enter the stage as a man I come on and create a character
man I come on and create a character
man I come on and create a character that is a man and I find when I am a man
that is a man and I find when I am a man
that is a man and I find when I am a man I can be unabashedly in other people’s
I can be unabashedly in other people’s
I can be unabashedly in other people’s faces I can be unapologetic and I can
faces I can be unapologetic and I can
faces I can be unapologetic and I can make the women on stage feel smaller I
make the women on stage feel smaller I
make the women on stage feel smaller I also can bring a lot of physical humor
also can bring a lot of physical humor
also can bring a lot of physical humor into my style for example so when I’m
into my style for example so when I’m
into my style for example so when I’m not rolling around on the stage or being
not rolling around on the stage or being
not rolling around on the stage or being a man on stage I become ridiculous women
a man on stage I become ridiculous women
a man on stage I become ridiculous women the northern mom and an ice storm who’s
the northern mom and an ice storm who’s
the northern mom and an ice storm who’s trying to find tostitos for her kids the
trying to find tostitos for her kids the
trying to find tostitos for her kids the flight is sexy flight attendant whose
flight is sexy flight attendant whose
flight is sexy flight attendant whose bending over to arouse passengers the
bending over to arouse passengers the
bending over to arouse passengers the teenage girl at a sleepover with a
teenage girl at a sleepover with a
teenage girl at a sleepover with a horrible list that keeps saying Shanna
horrible list that keeps saying Shanna
horrible list that keeps saying Shanna peach don’t you see what I do i migrated
peach don’t you see what I do i migrated
peach don’t you see what I do i migrated from flavor to flavor to flavor of
from flavor to flavor to flavor of
from flavor to flavor to flavor of ridiculous women pigeonholing them as I
ridiculous women pigeonholing them as I
ridiculous women pigeonholing them as I go along and the sad thing is is I
go along and the sad thing is is I
go along and the sad thing is is I choose to do this I choose to create
choose to do this I choose to create
choose to do this I choose to create ridiculous women on stage to make
ridiculous women on stage to make
ridiculous women on stage to make something funny female comedians have to
something funny female comedians have to
something funny female comedians have to stand up on stage simply being
stand up on stage simply being
stand up on stage simply being themselves and get pigeonholed
themselves and get pigeonholed
themselves and get pigeonholed automatically in order to sell tickets
automatically in order to sell tickets
automatically in order to sell tickets they have to be in your face or really
they have to be in your face or really
they have to be in your face or really pretty in order to give butts in the
pretty in order to give butts in the
pretty in order to give butts in the seats they’re being pigeon-holed so we
seats they’re being pigeon-holed so we
seats they’re being pigeon-holed so we have these two blatant categories for
have these two blatant categories for
have these two blatant categories for women to be put into and I stand here
women to be put into and I stand here
women to be put into and I stand here today as a 21 year old female going into
today as a 21 year old female going into
today as a 21 year old female going into the world of show business wondering why
the world of show business wondering why
the world of show business wondering why why do we just have to gat aghori for
why do we just have to gat aghori for
why do we just have to gat aghori for women to be put into as some Nell
women to be put into as some Nell
women to be put into as some Nell Scovell of Marie Claire magazine says
Scovell of Marie Claire magazine says
Scovell of Marie Claire magazine says comedy is a contact sport and no one
comedy is a contact sport and no one
comedy is a contact sport and no one wants to get beat up by a girl right
wants to get beat up by a girl right
wants to get beat up by a girl right right my older sister when I was
right my older sister when I was
right my older sister when I was creating this talk asked me a very
creating this talk asked me a very
creating this talk asked me a very important questions you said what do you
important questions you said what do you
important questions you said what do you do when you imitate other whim
do when you imitate other whim
do when you imitate other whim what do you do when you imitate other
what do you do when you imitate other
what do you do when you imitate other comedians how do other people imitate
comedians how do other people imitate
comedians how do other people imitate you it becomes a bit in our improv
you it becomes a bit in our improv
you it becomes a bit in our improv troupe to imitate me on stage a lot of
troupe to imitate me on stage a lot of
troupe to imitate me on stage a lot of times people walk in and they’re very
times people walk in and they’re very
times people walk in and they’re very dominating and very physical to start
dominating and very physical to start
dominating and very physical to start rolling around on the stage and talking
rolling around on the stage and talking
rolling around on the stage and talking over people I’m kind of proud of that
over people I’m kind of proud of that
over people I’m kind of proud of that but that’s how I’m being pigeon-holed in
but that’s how I’m being pigeon-holed in
but that’s how I’m being pigeon-holed in my comedy so people are imitating me in
my comedy so people are imitating me in
my comedy so people are imitating me in a specific way a man named Christopher
a specific way a man named Christopher
a specific way a man named Christopher Hitchens wrote an article for Vanity
Hitchens wrote an article for Vanity
Hitchens wrote an article for Vanity Fair called why women aren’t funny in
Fair called why women aren’t funny in
Fair called why women aren’t funny in this article he said that there’s a few
this article he said that there’s a few
this article he said that there’s a few decent female comedians out there but
decent female comedians out there but
decent female comedians out there but when it boils down to it they’re either
when it boils down to it they’re either
when it boils down to it they’re either hefty Judd I key or Jewish or some combo
hefty Judd I key or Jewish or some combo
hefty Judd I key or Jewish or some combo of the three he says that men dominate
of the three he says that men dominate
of the three he says that men dominate the style comedy they set the standard
the style comedy they set the standard
the style comedy they set the standard for what is funny and they want women as
for what is funny and they want women as
for what is funny and they want women as the audience and when women aren’t the
the audience and when women aren’t the
the audience and when women aren’t the audience they are able to critique them
audience they are able to critique them
audience they are able to critique them they don’t want women in on the joke or
they don’t want women in on the joke or
they don’t want women in on the joke or god forbid to make the joke for them
god forbid to make the joke for them
god forbid to make the joke for them they just want them to sit there and
they just want them to sit there and
they just want them to sit there and listen if they sit if they don’t they
listen if they sit if they don’t they
listen if they sit if they don’t they become superior and unattractive and
become superior and unattractive and
become superior and unattractive and then therefore they can be critiqued
then therefore they can be critiqued
then therefore they can be critiqued Samuel s Jonas the study for the
Samuel s Jonas the study for the
Samuel s Jonas the study for the American Journal of psychoanalysis he
American Journal of psychoanalysis he
American Journal of psychoanalysis he studied comedians behaviors and IQ
studied comedians behaviors and IQ
studied comedians behaviors and IQ factors that factor into it so he did a
factors that factor into it so he did a
factors that factor into it so he did a test taking male and female comedians
test taking male and female comedians
test taking male and female comedians and then average people I don’t know
and then average people I don’t know
and then average people I don’t know what to call them someone just call him
what to call them someone just call him
what to call them someone just call him average people average people and so he
average people average people and so he
average people average people and so he did this IQ test and he found that male
did this IQ test and he found that male
did this IQ test and he found that male comedians had an average of 138 on the
comedians had an average of 138 on the
comedians had an average of 138 on the IQ test female comedians had an average
IQ test female comedians had an average
IQ test female comedians had an average of 126 on the IQ test and the average
of 126 on the IQ test and the average
of 126 on the IQ test and the average person got a score of 90 on the IQ test
person got a score of 90 on the IQ test
person got a score of 90 on the IQ test 138 126 and 90 this gap in the IQ shows
138 126 and 90 this gap in the IQ shows
138 126 and 90 this gap in the IQ shows that the comedian’s automatically have a
that the comedian’s automatically have a
that the comedian’s automatically have a superior IQ to most people it’s not
superior IQ to most people it’s not
superior IQ to most people it’s not saying I’m smarter than most of you
saying I’m smarter than most of you
saying I’m smarter than most of you that’s just saying a fact
but society teaches us that superiority
but society teaches us that superiority features intelligence in order to be
features intelligence in order to be
features intelligence in order to be smart it’s seen as more attractive
smart it’s seen as more attractive
smart it’s seen as more attractive however a man likes being the one that’s
however a man likes being the one that’s
however a man likes being the one that’s smarter than the woman so when a woman
smarter than the woman so when a woman
smarter than the woman so when a woman suddenly has a higher IQ and more
suddenly has a higher IQ and more
suddenly has a higher IQ and more intelligence she becomes unattractive to
intelligence she becomes unattractive to
intelligence she becomes unattractive to them and to quote Carol Burnett I people
them and to quote Carol Burnett I people
them and to quote Carol Burnett I people are afraid to be unattractive I’m not
are afraid to be unattractive I’m not
are afraid to be unattractive I’m not afraid of that goodness knows but all
afraid of that goodness knows but all
afraid of that goodness knows but all but one in a million women are afraid to
but one in a million women are afraid to
but one in a million women are afraid to mess up their hair not wear lipstick
mess up their hair not wear lipstick
mess up their hair not wear lipstick slouch or look flat-chested they labor
slouch or look flat-chested they labor
slouch or look flat-chested they labor under the necessity of being feminine
under the necessity of being feminine
under the necessity of being feminine they are afraid that being funny is
they are afraid that being funny is
they are afraid that being funny is unfeminine so we have these two
unfeminine so we have these two
unfeminine so we have these two categories for women do put into the
categories for women do put into the
categories for women do put into the overly feminized where you have to be a
overly feminized where you have to be a
overly feminized where you have to be a woman in order to be funny in the /
woman in order to be funny in the /
woman in order to be funny in the / masculinized where you have to match a
masculinized where you have to match a
masculinized where you have to match a male sense of humor in order to be funny
male sense of humor in order to be funny
male sense of humor in order to be funny is there a way that we can weave these
is there a way that we can weave these
is there a way that we can weave these two categories together do they have to
two categories together do they have to
two categories together do they have to be mutually exclusive can we be both
be mutually exclusive can we be both
be mutually exclusive can we be both feminine and masculine onstage or do we
feminine and masculine onstage or do we
feminine and masculine onstage or do we just have to be just one men tend to
just have to be just one men tend to
just have to be just one men tend to have the upper ground of being way over
have the upper ground of being way over
have the upper ground of being way over the top and their humor they can be an
the top and their humor they can be an
the top and their humor they can be an average person just simply speaking on
average person just simply speaking on
average person just simply speaking on stage no added hype no added performance
stage no added hype no added performance
stage no added hype no added performance or they can be way flamboyant over the
or they can be way flamboyant over the
or they can be way flamboyant over the top very very mundane very boring women
top very very mundane very boring women
top very very mundane very boring women only have the upper ground of being
only have the upper ground of being
only have the upper ground of being feminized or the lower ground of being
feminized or the lower ground of being
feminized or the lower ground of being masculinized is there this middle ground
masculinized is there this middle ground
masculinized is there this middle ground for women to be put into can women be on
for women to be put into can women be on
for women to be put into can women be on stage with no added hype no added
stage with no added hype no added
stage with no added hype no added performance and still be funny can we
performance and still be funny can we
performance and still be funny can we make the two categories be combined to
make the two categories be combined to
make the two categories be combined to be both feminine and masculine at the
be both feminine and masculine at the
be both feminine and masculine at the same time I believe we’re starting to do
same time I believe we’re starting to do
same time I believe we’re starting to do that I mean look again at the comedians
that I mean look again at the comedians
that I mean look again at the comedians Amy Poehler Tina Fey and Allen DeGeneres
Amy Poehler Tina Fey and Allen DeGeneres
Amy Poehler Tina Fey and Allen DeGeneres women who have said you know what I’m
women who have said you know what I’m
women who have said you know what I’m going to make my comedy for myself I’m
going to make my comedy for myself I’m
going to make my comedy for myself I’m going to be funny and I don’t care what
going to be funny and I don’t care what
going to be funny and I don’t care what you say Tina Fey in her book bossy pants
you say Tina Fey in her book bossy pants
you say Tina Fey in her book bossy pants said on the topic of critics like
said on the topic of critics like
said on the topic of critics like Christopher Hitchens saying why women
Christopher Hitchens saying why women
Christopher Hitchens saying why women aren’t funny she said when faced with
aren’t funny she said when faced with
aren’t funny she said when faced with sexism ageism look ism or even really
sexism ageism look ism or even really
sexism ageism look ism or even really aggressive Buddhism
aggressive Buddhism
aggressive Buddhism ask yourself the following question is
ask yourself the following question is
ask yourself the following question is this person between me and what I want
this person between me and what I want
this person between me and what I want to do if the answer is no ignore it and
to do if the answer is no ignore it and
to do if the answer is no ignore it and move on Amy Poehler said in her book yes
move on Amy Poehler said in her book yes
move on Amy Poehler said in her book yes please you have to care about your work
please you have to care about your work
please you have to care about your work and not the result you have to care
and not the result you have to care
and not the result you have to care about how good you are and how could you
about how good you are and how could you
about how good you are and how could you feel not about how good people think you
feel not about how good people think you
feel not about how good people think you are or how good people think you look in
are or how good people think you look in
are or how good people think you look in Ellen DeGeneres when she recently
Ellen DeGeneres when she recently
Ellen DeGeneres when she recently received the presidential medal of
received the presidential medal of
received the presidential medal of freedom by President Obama this past
freedom by President Obama this past
freedom by President Obama this past fall when she was given the award for
fall when she was given the award for
fall when she was given the award for truly being herself President Obama said
truly being herself President Obama said
truly being herself President Obama said L encounters in society what too often
L encounters in society what too often
L encounters in society what too often divides us and binds us together with
divides us and binds us together with
divides us and binds us together with the counts that countless things that
the counts that countless things that
the counts that countless things that divide us inspires us to be better one
divide us inspires us to be better one
divide us inspires us to be better one joke one dance at a time so we have
joke one dance at a time so we have
joke one dance at a time so we have these female comedians who are changing
these female comedians who are changing
these female comedians who are changing the face of being pigeon-holed they’re
the face of being pigeon-holed they’re
the face of being pigeon-holed they’re teaching us that you can be two
teaching us that you can be two
teaching us that you can be two different things that you don’t have to
different things that you don’t have to
different things that you don’t have to care about what other people say in
care about what other people say in
care about what other people say in order to be funny you can simply just be
order to be funny you can simply just be
order to be funny you can simply just be funny I mean look at ourselves how are
funny I mean look at ourselves how are
funny I mean look at ourselves how are we pigeon holing other people what are
we pigeon holing other people what are
we pigeon holing other people what are we forcing people to do to be to be
we forcing people to do to be to be
we forcing people to do to be to be funny to be anything are you pigeon
funny to be anything are you pigeon
funny to be anything are you pigeon holing yourself I mean look at Furman
holing yourself I mean look at Furman
holing yourself I mean look at Furman guys we have a category a name and
guys we have a category a name and
guys we have a category a name and identity for every single thing we do on
identity for every single thing we do on
identity for every single thing we do on campus our chemistry majors spend way
campus our chemistry majors spend way
campus our chemistry majors spend way too much time in the lab and our music
too much time in the lab and our music
too much time in the lab and our music majors don’t have a social life our
majors don’t have a social life our
majors don’t have a social life our Barbara jacket and beans boots bean
Barbara jacket and beans boots bean
Barbara jacket and beans boots bean boots keep us warm in the winter and our
boots keep us warm in the winter and our
boots keep us warm in the winter and our giant t-shirts and nike shorts keep us
giant t-shirts and nike shorts keep us
giant t-shirts and nike shorts keep us cool in the summer I’ve seen way too
cool in the summer I’ve seen way too
cool in the summer I’ve seen way too many north face backpacks and
many north face backpacks and
many north face backpacks and birkenstocks around campus we are so
birkenstocks around campus we are so
birkenstocks around campus we are so busy and have enough free time and I’m
busy and have enough free time and I’m
busy and have enough free time and I’m so tired we have a category and identity
so tired we have a category and identity
so tired we have a category and identity that we must fit is there a way to break
that we must fit is there a way to break
that we must fit is there a way to break out of this is there a way that you
out of this is there a way that you
out of this is there a way that you don’t have to be just yourself you can’t
don’t have to be just yourself you can’t
don’t have to be just yourself you can’t just wear j.crew you could wear lily and
just wear j.crew you could wear lily and
just wear j.crew you could wear lily and you could wear bohemian clothes you can
you could wear bohemian clothes you can
you could wear bohemian clothes you can be whatever you want to be you don’t
be whatever you want to be you don’t
be whatever you want to be you don’t have to be put into a pigeon hole I
have to be put into a pigeon hole I
have to be put into a pigeon hole I think if we start with ourselves start
think if we start with ourselves start
think if we start with ourselves start telling us that we can be any identity
telling us that we can be any identity
telling us that we can be any identity and the idea of what we want to be we
and the idea of what we want to be we
and the idea of what we want to be we can do that I don’t have to be over
can do that I don’t have to be over
can do that I don’t have to be over masculinize or overly feminized to be
masculinize or overly feminized to be
masculinize or overly feminized to be funny I can simply be funny I’m trying
funny I can simply be funny I’m trying
funny I can simply be funny I’m trying slowly but surely this pigeon is flying
slowly but surely this pigeon is flying
slowly but surely this pigeon is flying out of her hole
out of her hole
out of her hole thank you
thank you
thank you [Applause]
you
you [Music]
”
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