The Black Dog Podcast
Join Lee, Darren, Jim and Elton as they waffle, wonder and jabber on about film, geek news, video games and any other tangential rubbish that springs to mind. Before reviewing a movie from a streaming service in our feature Shut In Cinema.
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ISS
05/06/2026
ISS
This week Jim dives into cloud gaming, Elton walks into a shop, Darren plays a game where he is repeatedly killed by trees and Lee drinks some Mauritian rum. After that theres a brief bit of feedback for Contact before we head off to the final entry of our sad space people in space movie, I.S.S. where we ask such questions as what else we could have been doing rather than watching this and does it make Godzilla sad. Media Discussed This Week Amazon Luna Cloud Gaming - Amazon Prime The Trees Hate You - Steam / XBox Forever Winter - Steam Knock at the Cabin - Amazon Prime / VOD / Channel 4 I.S.S. - Netflix
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Contact (1997)
04/29/2026
Contact (1997)
Welcome to an EPIC length episode as Jim builds a fence and is mightily disturbed by a coffee table, Darren appreciates some Doom Patrol and Lee has a back to basics nature experience with his family that is less singing around a camp fire and more Burt Reynolds in Deliverance. Then after some Midnight Sky feedback its on to this weeks film. The third in the spaceman / space daddy issues season as Jodie Foster clashes with science, faith and a very big Sky satellite dish set up to make Contact. Media discussed this week History of 80s Horror - Shudder The Coffee Table - Shudder / Amazon Prime Terror at Oakheart - Xbox / PC Doom Patrol - Amazon Prime Midnight Sky - Netflix Frameless Immersive Art Experience - No.6 Marble Arch The Boys - Amazon Prime Contact - Amazon Prime / VOD
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The Midnight Sky
04/21/2026
The Midnight Sky
Welcome back, this week Jim hunts Dust Bunnies, Elton enters pothole city, Darren has a problem with Rogue Trooper's knitted vest and Lee pays £8 for a pint in an empty pub. After which we move on to a grim (but scientifically shambolic) future where everythings gone to hell but at least we can still sing to Neil Diamond's Sweet Caroline... The Netflix apocalyptic prestige movie The Midnight Sky. Media Discussed This Week Dust Bunny - Amazon Prime / VOD The Bride! - VOD Hammers 4 sided triangle - Cinema Equidistant Atomfall - All game platforms Fallout 4 - All game platforms The Boys Season 5 - Amazon Prime London Calling - Amazon Prime Akira (4K rerelease) - Theatrical Release The Midnight Sky - Netflix
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Ad Astra
04/08/2026
Ad Astra
This week Jim goes down the allotment and does unspeakable things with a sweet potato. Elton watches a unique take on couples therapy with Together, Darren reveals what we already knew about him playing Star Trek Voyager (see episode 257 for details) and Lee gleefully enjoys Rachel McAdams torturing a tech bro on an island in Sam Raimis Get Help. Then after some Primer feedback which is almost as confusing as the original film we move on to this weeks film and the start of SPAAAAACE season. Brad Pitt looks out a window and narrates being sad in space in Ad Astra. Oh and do enjoy an on air production meeting as we try to pick the next film... Media Discussed This Week Emma's Allotment Diaries - YouTube Together - Amazon Prime Civil War - Amazon Prime Reacher Season 1 - Amazon Prime Star Trek Voyager: Into The Unknown - PC / Xbox / Playstation War Machine - Netflix Send Help - Amazon Prime VOD Primer - Amazon VOD / YouTube Ad Astra - Netflix / Disney +
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Primer
04/01/2026
Primer
MY BRAIN HURTS!
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Biggles Adventures In Time
03/25/2026
Biggles Adventures In Time
This week Jim dives into Last One Laughing as well as enjoying some Classic Album Reviews, Darren and Lee discuss Project Hail Mary and Elton? Well lets just say he has a bathroom mishap Then after some quick feedback its time to smoke me a kipper skipper (not available in TV dinner form) as we try to definitively locate the comma in the film Biggles, adventure in time... Or is it Biggles Adventure, in time? Either way its the Biggles film... Media Discussed This Week Classic Album Reviews - YouTube Last one laughing - Amazon Prime Project Hail Mary - Theatrical Release Biggles Adventures In Time - Archive dot Org / YouTube / Amazon Prime VOD rental
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Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die
03/18/2026
Good Luck, Have Fun, Don't Die
This week Jim returns from illness to remind us that the retro game Dungeon Keeper still exists, Elton goes on a Alex Garland trip watching Civil War (not currently a documentary) and 28 Years Later. Darren sends everyone down a retro gaming rabbit hole digging through MyAbandonWare and also regrets watching the TV show Falling Skies, while Lee (also disappearing down the retro game hole, visits Birmingham and digs into some nostalga bait with the relaunched series of Scrubs. After that the guys realise its getting late and plough on to this weeks review. The "anarchic" time travel anti AI, anti kids, anti whatever is in the news this week, sci fi comedy thriller Good Luck Have Fun Don't Die. Media Discussed This Week Dungeon Keeper - PC / GoG / Steam Civil War - Amazon Prime 28 Years Later - Amazon Prime / VoD rental Falling Skies - Netflix War Machine - Netflix Simpsons Hit N Run - PC / MyAbandonWare . com Yellowstone - Paramount + Malice - Amazon Prime Scrubs - Disney+ Microshoot Adventures - PC / PS5 / Xbox Good Luck Have Fun Don't Die - Theatrical Release / VoD Rental
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Timecrimes
03/11/2026
Timecrimes
This week, Jim is struck down by the flu so unfortunately there is no adult in the room as Elton is thankful for having a bone in his head, Darren does, but doesn't, but does watch Game of Thrones back to back, or does he? And Lee who was laid up with the lurgy last week watches what can only be described as a slew of "We have this movie at home..." timu remakes of Die Hard, John Wick/Pirates of the Caribean and Catch Me If You Can. After that its on to this weeks film... A small budget Spanish time travel thriller Timecrimes... Ladies and gents start your watches! The countdown to explaining The Terminator again, begins in 3...2...1 Media Watched This Week The Bride - Theatrical Release Morgan Freemans Dinosaurs - Netflix The Bluff - Amazon Prime Cleaner - Amazon Prime / VOD Bandit - Netflix Timecrimes - Amazon Prime
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Warfare
02/25/2026
Warfare
This week Jim gets some good news... and some bad... but mainly good. Elton plays a game called Paddle which may involve using a... Paddle. Darren, gets an achy side and decides he wants to shill for Chris Packham. And Lee catches up with Veep and the BBC show of the moment Small Prophets After that its WAR! And as we know war is hell... and rather loud.... as we review Alex Garlands Warfare Media Discussed This Week Small Prophets - BBC / BBC iPlayer Veep - HBO / Sky / NowTV Warfare - Amazon Prime
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Young Sherlock Holmes
02/18/2026
Young Sherlock Holmes
The game is afoot as we rush into this weeks episode as Darren tries very very hard to convince us all he went to see The Housemaid for the plot (he also reads Playboy for the articles) while Lee watches Predator: Badlands, Crime 101 aka Timu Heat and in a moment of blind Valentines day induced terror and panic tries to make a Victoria sponge while missing ingredents, equipment and basic skills... After which icing sugar based disasters leads us on to this weeks film... A ground breaking moment in CGi history and a painfully 80s movie, the guys don their deer stalkers and stride off down the dark Victorian streets to learn about Young Sherlock Holmes. Media Discussed This Week Crime 101 - Theatrical Release The Housemaid - Theatrical Release (also abandoned in the bushes next to readers wives circa 1989) Predator Badlands - Disney+ Skyrim - PC, Xbox, Playstation, Switch, Digital Watch, Fridge Thermostat Young Sherlock Holmes - VOD rental (YouTube, Apple+, Amazon Prime, Paramount+)
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Pumaman
02/11/2026
Pumaman
This week Jim has damp, tries gutter repair and watches a chilled dude explain everything, Darren dives into Mr Inbetween and Lee helps adopt a cat and goggles slack jawed at the techno tedium of Tron Ares which is clearly a typo... Then after some feedback for The Invitation its on to this weeks film which has three men asking "Why!?" as Lee presents this weeks film Pumaman Media Discussed This Week A Chilled Guy Explains - YouTube Fallout - Amazon Prime Mr Inbetween - Disney+ Tron:Ares - Disney+ Russell Howard Live - London Paladium Resident Alien - Netflix Pumaman - Youtube
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The Invitation
02/04/2026
The Invitation
This week Jim becomes a crime scene cleaner, Elton dives in to Mr Mercedes, Darren marvels at his car repair skills and Lee watches a lot of stuff but only seems to actually enjoy Wonder Man... Perhaps don't mention Starfleet Academy around him though Then after a bit of brief feedback its on to this weeks film in the unintended uninvited guest season.... Logan Marshall-Green perhaps regretting going to a party with his ex in The Invitation. Media Discussed This Week Crime Scene Cleaner - Xbox / PC Mr Mercedes - Netflix Mobland - Paramount+ Mr Inbetween - Disney+ Wrecking Crew - Amazon Prime Fackham Hall - Amazon Prime (VOD Rental) Wonder Man - Disney+ The Rip - Netflix Star Trek Starfleet Academy - In the first draft post-it note folder labelled "watery soup (no croutons, broth sold separately)" The Invitation (2015) - Amazon Prime
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The Guest
01/20/2026
The Guest
This week Jim discovers the longest running horror film series, Elton is unaware what happened to his phesant visitor from last week, Darren boggles at the variety of goods in a TK Max and Lee foolishly attempts to repair a toilet. Then after a random wet cat invasion and some feedback for last weeks episode its on to this weeks movie. A 80s influenced neo noir, with a charismatic anti hero in the form of Dan "Steamy" Stevens in The Guest Media Discussed This Week 28 Years Later: The Bone Temple - Theatrical Release Witchcraft 1 - 16 - VOD Fallout season 2 - Amazon Prime Quarrantine Zone - Xbox Live / Steam The Guest - Amazon Prime
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Misery
01/14/2026
Misery
Welcome to 2026 everythings awful lets go home. Jim spends this week on two constants in life, Taxes and Chocolates. Elton gets very Brigerton with a clumsy phesant, Darren tries to decipher the Foundation TV show through the works of Scatman John and Lee nutritionally regrets showing solidarity with his wifes new diet Then after a brief bit of feedback its on to this weeks film. Gasp in wonder as we manage to review the Rob Reiner, Stephen King classic Misery, through the many detours into fandom entitlement, stalking, Stranger Things secret episodes, Mass Effect 3 and Bricktop from Snatch... I would suggest that it'd make sense if you listen to it, but alas I can't guarantee that. Media Discussed This Week Plur1bus - Apple TV Begonia - Amazon Prime VOD Shaun of the Dead - iTVX Top Gun Maverick - Channel 4 / 4OD Foundation - Apple TV No Other Choice - VOD Quarantine - Steam / Xbox Stranger Things - Netflix Mass Effect 3 - Steam / Xbox / Playstation Misery - Amazon Prime
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This is 2026 calling testing testing 123
01/07/2026
This is 2026 calling testing testing 123
Welcome to this shake down cruise for the podcast in 2026 as we shake off the dust and catch up with the hosts and their break. No film to review specifically, but plenty of stuff reviewed as we; Catch up with Jim's flamable military defense Christmas pudding and alcohol production. Learn about Eltons visit to the church of the lord on Christmas day, swiftly followed by the church of the (pub land) lord immediately after. As well as his love of the new Jurassic Park film... Darren stresses over Wowcher, loses his glasses which is a shame as he's playing that Resident Evil game with the memeable tall buxom vampire lady. While Lee, repairs multiple things around the house without incident but nearly dies from blood loss putting a computer board on top of a second computer board. Media Reviewed This Week Silent Night - Amazon Prime Loved Ones - Amazon Prime Jurassic Park Rebirth - Amazon Prime Plur1bus - Apple TV Annaconda - Theatrical Release Mama Mia - Theater Resident Evil Village - PC / Xbox / Playstation The Running Man - Theatrical Release / VOD rental Relay - Amazon Prime Good Fortune - VOD rental Red Sonja - Amazon Prime Alan Wake 2 - PC / Xbox / Playstation Abslom - PC / Xbox / Playstation
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Tornado
12/23/2025
Tornado
This week we wind up the year with news of Jims food and booze apocalypse, Darrens lost track of time and thats not because of The Hobbit he foolishly decided to watch. While Lee waits a very long time for Apple juice and watches the latest Knives Out. Then after some feedback its on to this weeks film... From the director of SLOW west (which may be a clue) is a new take on Samurai revenge movies, Tornado. Media reviewed this week The Hobbit Desert Strike - PC Megacopter: Blades of the Goddess - PC Dispatch - PC / PS5 / Xbox Wake up dead man: A knives out mystery - Netflix Tornado - Amazon Prime
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The Substance
12/17/2025
The Substance
This week, Jim preps for christmas booze and enjoys a trip to Derry Maine while disparing at the discourse around the show. Elton has a major "up moment" hanging out with chill musicians. Darren laments the cost of everything and seems fairly non plussed at the new Doctor Who spin off show. While Lee, gets banned from Reddit for saying naughty words about the Fanta Menace, enjoys an interactive cartoon game and travels to a pub in Bristol to teach people to paint robins in a pub. After that we all get our gym wear on and try to awkwardly look anywhere but the screen when our partners are in the room as we review The Substance. Media discussed this week Welcome To Derry - Now TV / Sky TV / HBO The War Between Land And Sea - BBC iPlayer Dispatch - PC / Xbox / PS5 The Substance - Amazon Prime (With Mubi Subscription) / BFI Player / Mubi player Contact the show
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Rounders
12/10/2025
Rounders
This week Jim gets overly fruity with a christmas cake, Elton gets fleeced at a pub, Darren spends five nights at Freddies... Twice and Lee watches Kate Winslet be miserable in america and gets financially ram raided by an electrician Then after a brief shot of feedback for last weeks episode Madame Web its on to this weeks film. Matt Damon, Edward Norton and John Malkovich who thought when the director said he should play his character like someone in a Chekov play, thought they meant Mr Chekov from Star Trek, all star in the 1998 Poker movie Rounders. But is Poker even a sport? Media Discussed This Week Mare of Easttown - Now TV / Sky TV / HBO Five Nights At Freddies - Amazon Prime Five Nights At Freddies 2 - Theatrical Release Winterburrow - Xbox Game Pass Lost Skies - PC / Xbox Get in touch with the podcast email: Facebook:
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Madame Web
12/04/2025
Madame Web
This week we return with tales of advent calendar comparisons, Beatrix Potter survival horror games, Santa driving a flatbed lorry, Wicked for Good, Australian Pink Floyd, Roxette returning from 1988 to entertain 50 year olds for a 120 mins on a Monday night, drinking pints of Margarita in a plastic cup and strictly come dancing professionals in a bakery. Then we have some feedback for Nick Fury Agent of SHED before we move on to... Well.... A cinematic warcrime Sony's Spider-Man Adjacent Universe of movies poops out another internet meme in the form of Madame Web Media Discussed Today Call of Cthulu - Xbox Winterburrow - Xbox Sinking City - Xbox / PC / PS5 Physical Asia - Netflix In The Thick Of It - BBC iPlayer Palestine 36 - Theatrical Release Wicked for Good - Theatrical Release Playdate - Amazon Prime Pluribus - Apple TV Ted Lasso - Apple TV Madame Web - The Two For One Must Clear Bargain Bin At Computer Exchange
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Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD
11/19/2025
Nick Fury Agent of SHIELD
This week Jim goes on holiday to Derry Maine, Darren checks out the Running Man and Lee, well, lets just say the good people on an ill fated 261 bus now need deep trauma psychological therapy. Throw in a long stretch of old gaming nostalgia chat and some suscinct feedback for Velocipastor and we finally reach our destination, stretching out a long disappointing sigh for an hour as we discuss David Hasslehoffs first foray into the superhero genre Nick Fury: Agents of SHIELD Media discussed this week Black Phone 2 - Theatrical Release IT: Welcome to Derry - Now TV / HBO Max The Running Man - Theatrical Release BallXPit - Steam, Xbox, PS5 Nick Fury Agents of SHIELD
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Velocipastor
11/12/2025
Velocipastor
This week Jim gets an orthopaedic matress for his back and does his back in moving it. Darren ventures in to the Badlands with the Predator and Lee plays rock paper scissors in a pub with a bunch of coked up essex bricklayers, in a desperate attempt to save the rest of the table party. Then its on to this weeks film as we start Oh No-Vember, a tale of faith, love, loss, ninjas and "crikey a dragon warrior" aka Velocipastor. Media discussed this week Predator Badlands - Theatrical Release Spider-Man - PS5 / PC Lazarus - Amazon Prime Velocipastor - Amazon Prime
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The Long Walk
11/05/2025
The Long Walk
This week Jim's gastric system is fooled by Cinnamon candles, Darren has epic car issues and Lee tries to watch fireworks while standing less than a foot away from an industrial fog machine. Then after some feedback for P'CHOW P'CHOWWWW Longlegs, we move on to this weeks film. The long awaited and relentlessly bleak The Long Walk Media discussed this week Frankenstein - Netflix / limited theatre release Goodboy - Amazon VOD / limited theatre release Ted Lasso - Apple TV Carrier Command 2 - PC / Steam Lazarus - Amazon Prime Woman in Cabin 10 - Netflix Ballad of a Small Player - Netflix The Long Walk - Theatrical Release / Video on demand rental.
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Longlegs
10/29/2025
Longlegs
This week Jim dives into watching the Adams family films (no not that Addams family), Darren is lured towards Apple+ by Invasion and Lee tries and fails to show someone how to reverse a Mazda. And after that its time to put on your best Nic Cage accent as we dive in to reviewing Osgood Perkins X Files, Silence of the Lambs, supernatural serial killer flick Longlegs. Media Discussed This Week Hellbender - Amazon Prime Where The Dead Roam - Tubi Invasion - Apple+ Dirty Angels - Amazon Prime House of Dynamite - Netflix Longlegs - Amazon Prime
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Monkey Shines
10/23/2025
Monkey Shines
This week, Jim has a break, Elton has a toothy nightmare and learns to love live music. Darren fixes some laptops and Lee has a deep, blunt, yet meaningful conversation with a scam caller. Then after some feedback for The Perfection its on to this weeks Indeterminate Week of Horror, where car accidents cause pirouettes, monkeys fall in love and people find inappropriate uses for medical hoists. George A Romeros Monkey Shines Media Discussed This Week The Materialists - Theatrical Release / VOD rental Caught Stealing - Theatrical Release / VOD rental Eenie Meenie - Disney + V Rising - Steam / Consoles Alters - Steam / Consoles The Perfection - Netflix Monkey Shines - Amazon Prime
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Black Dog Green Room - Julia Roberts Sumo Jewel Heist
10/22/2025
Black Dog Green Room - Julia Roberts Sumo Jewel Heist
A short green room to reveal that your favourite podcast hosts have cracked the heist of the century!
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The Perfection
10/14/2025
The Perfection
This week Jim bakes, then Darren bakes live on air and Lee has existential terror on a tall bridge and then things get worse with oat milk After that its time for feedback for last weeks episode and the last Alien Earth episode. And then, its time to head in to our second Indeterminate week of horror with a movie that has more twists than than Oliver and more misdirection than a vegas magic act. The Perfection Media Discussed This Week Icarus - Steam Gen V - Amazon Prime Splinter Cell Death Walker - Netflix Popeye The Slayer Man (yes really) - Tubi The Monster Mash (YES REALLY! THIS TOO!) - Tubi The Perfection - Netflix
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Good Boy (2022)
10/08/2025
Good Boy (2022)
Welcome back. This week we head to the yorkshire dales with Jim, say good day sir to Facebook Marketplace buyers with Elton, watch Darren burn down his own cave in a video game, and gasp in horror at Lee's velociraptor seagull hit and run. After this we delve into some feedback for Total Recall before finally starting our Indeterminate Weeks of Horror, with the 2022 norwegian film Good Boy. Which shouldn't be confused with any other film, tv show, song or comic in the past 25 years with the same name. Media Discussed This Week HIM - Theatrical Release Phenomenon - Netflix Black Rabbit - Netflix Peacemaker - HBO Max / Sky The Stanley Parable - All Game Platforms Icarus - Steam / Xbox Play Dirty - Amazon Prime Mission Impossible: Final Reckoning - VOD Rental Good Boy - Amazon Prime
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Alien Earth Episode 8 The Real Monsters
09/25/2025
Alien Earth Episode 8 The Real Monsters
Weltschmerz (German: [ˈvɛltʃmɛɐ̯ts] literally "world-pain") is a literary concept describing the feeling experienced by an individual who believes that reality can never satisfy the expectations of the mind, resulting in "a mood of weariness or sadness about life arising from the acute awareness of evil and suffering" So welcome to Alien:Weltschmerz - This weeks special covering the final episode contains spoilers, regrets, sadness, existential world weariness, pleading, barganing, denial and finally acceptance that what on the face of it looked like a bad idea, eventually was. Warning: May contain full on mental breakdown of multiple hosts.
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Total Recall (1990)
09/24/2025
Total Recall (1990)
This week in an extended episode (because we're not here next week), we all get wrapped up in trying to discuss 28 Years Later, before deciding on doing a spoiler special, then do the same for Weapons. After that Darren is blown away by Kings Cross' rejuvination and Lee watches some comedians in a tent and eats a "food coma" After that and some feedback for last weeks film, Tenet, we get our ass to Mars to discuss the Arnie & Paul Verhoeven sci fi epic Total Recall. Media Discussed This Week Weapons - Rental Amazon Prime 28 Weeks Later - Rental Amazon Prime Star Trek Strange New Worlds - Paramount Plus Resident Alien - Now TV / Netflix Total Recall (1990) - Amazon Prime
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Alien Earth Episode 7 Emergence
09/19/2025
Alien Earth Episode 7 Emergence
All hope is lost... Weekend at Bernies 7: Jurassic Park isnt as fun as we thought.
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