Podcast Awesome

Latest Episodes:

🎙️ What the Heck is a Design Engineer? (with Dave Darnes) Feb 26, 2025

Show notes

Design engineer. UX engineer. Front-end dev with opinions. What does it all mean?! In this episode, we sit down with Dave Darnes to untangle the ever-evolving world of design and development (And Dave is our first non-Font Awesomer on the pod!). We talk about why job titles keep getting weirder, whether "engineer" is a fair title for folks who work on the web, and how design systems can bridge the gap between teams. Plus, we explore the future of the role — will tools like Figma and AI replace design engineers, or will the internet always need humans who can actually build things?

🚀 Tune in for a fun, insightful, and slightly existential conversation about the intersection of design, dev, and the titles we give ourselves.
🏆 Key Takeaways

Design Engineer: Job Title or Existential Crisis? Dave breaks down the blurry line between design and development and why this role exists.
Gatekeeping vs. Open Web: How the internet has democratized career paths—and why some job titles might be a shield against skepticism.
The Future of Design & Dev: Will tools like Figma and AI squeeze out design engineers, or is there always a place for people who build with craft?
Design Systems & Developer Relations: Why advocacy (not nagging) makes or breaks adoption.
Rockstar/Ninja/Unicorn Titles: Just ... don’t.

⏱️ Episode Breakdown

🕛 00:00 - Meet Dave Darnes – 🇬🇧 UK-based designer/developer, father of sick children (but still here for the podcast).

🎤 02:30 - The Legendary "David Darnes" Callout – A completely necessary and extremely fun moment of podcast magic.

🛠️ 06:45 - What is a Design Engineer Anyway? – The Venn diagram of design and development overlaps in weird ways.

📛 12:15 - Why Job Titles Get Messy – Specialization vs. generalization and the need to impress hiring managers.

🏗️ 18:30 - Engineer as a Title — Does It Matter? – Structural engineers hold up buildings; do web engineers hold up the internet? (Kinda, yeah.)

🔄 24:00 - The Evolution of Design & Dev Roles – How web components, CSS variables, and other tech are shifting expectations.

🥕 30:45 - How to Get People to Actually Use a Design System – Hint: Be more carrot, less stick.

🤖 35:00 - The Battle Between Figma & AI – Will design engineers survive the encroaching automation?

🔄 40:30 - If You Had to Rename 'Design Engineer'... – Dave's answer is almost annoyingly simple.

🔗 Resources & Links

Check out Dave’s work: https://darn.es/
His blog on design systems: designsystems.wtf
Is 2025 the Year of the "Design Engineer"?
Submit your own “David Darnes” callout on his website (seriously, do it).
🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/
🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/
🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/
"After School Keyboard Club" https://pixabay.com/music/video-games-after-school-keyboard-club-casio-vl-tone-80s-chiptune-retro-151684/
Font Awesome on the Socials
🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com
🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome
📸 Instagram: @font.awesome

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Dave Gandy on Why Boring is Best™ in Engineering Feb 18, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Dave and Matt explore First LEGO League, where kids as young as third grade tackle robotics and engineering challenges. As a coach, Dave shares how he guides his team to embrace the golden rule of engineering: Keep it simple, keep it sturdy.

Listeners will learn how to spot the difference between over-the-top complexity and straightforward solutions that just work. Practical beats fancy almost every time.

Dave also shares how his time at MIT taught him that simplicity is the secret sauce of reliable design. His mantra “Boring is Best™” takes center stage as he unpacks how choosing functional, dependable solutions often leads to bigger wins.

But this isn’t just about gears and sensors — it’s about the people behind the bots. Coaching young engineers shines a light on the ultimate truth: Good engineering is all about putting people first.

Key Takeaways:

LEGO League 101: Where third graders gear up to build and program robots like tiny pros.
Simple Wins: In engineering, simple and sturdy beats flashy but fragile every time.
Dave's MIT Mantra: Inspired by his alma mater, Dave champions practical, reliable solutions.
Power of Basics: Stick to the fundamentals, and you’ll go further than you think.
Test, Tweak, Repeat: Early testing and iteration > chasing perfection out of the gate.

This episode is proof that when it comes to engineering (and life), keeping it simple doesn’t just work — it wins.

Timestamp

🧩 0:32 – Coaching Kids in Engineering Through First LEGO League
⚖️ 5:31 – Balancing Simplicity and Creativity in Engineering Solutions
🤖 8:02 – Simplifying LEGO Robotics: Achieving Success Through Minimalism
🤿 10:54 – Innovative Solutions for Underwater Exploration Challenges
🏆 12:38 – Boring Solutions Win Engineering Competitions
🚀 15:45 – Balancing Innovation with Customer Needs in Tech Startups
🔄 17:35 – Embracing Iteration and Accepting Being Wrong for Faster Success
🛠️ 20:01 – Embracing Simplicity and Iteration in Product Development
Resources:
Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/
The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions
Aurora Holiday Dance
Font Awesome on the Socials

First LEGO League
🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com
🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome
📸 Instagram: @font.awesome
💼 LinkedIn: / fontawesome

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2024 Wrap-Up: Growth, Legends, and a Kitty Cat Saga Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

It’s that time of year again! In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we’re reflecting on all the things that went down at Font Awesome in 2024. From expanding the Awesomeverse with Web Awesome and Eleventy to major product updates like the full release of Duotone Icons and shiny new branding, we cover it all.

You’ll hear about the Web Awesome Kickstarter campaign (success!), the arrival of industry legends Lea Verou and Zach Leatherman, and the behind-the-scenes Font Awesome updates that made 2024 one for the books. As they say. Oh, and don’t miss Jory’s epic tale of a tuxedo kitten named Toast that could easily inspire a heart warming stop motion holiday movie.

Tune in for a fun, nerdy recap of the year that was and a sneak peek at what’s in store for 2025.
Timestamp Summary
🎉 0:08 | Reflecting on 2024 and Font Awesome's Upcoming Plans
🐾 2:35 | A Christmas Miracle and a Chaotic Kitten Rescue
🌌 7:26 | Building the Awesomeverse: Font Awesome's Expansion and Success
🔧 10:28 | Web Awesome Simplifies Website Building with Reusable Components
🤝 13:12 | Exciting New Hires and Developments at Font Awesome
🎁 16:41 | Exciting Updates and Offers for Font Awesome Pro
✨ 18:51 | Font Awesome's Icon Expansion and Creative Uses
🎥 25:07 | Behind the Scenes of a New Font Awesome Video
🛠️ 27:57 | Customizing Font Awesome Kits for Optimal Website Performance
🌱 30:12 | Evolution ... It'll Save Your Life
Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/
The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions
Aurora Holiday Dance
Font Awesome on the Socials
🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com
🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome
📸 Instagram: @font.awesome
💼 LinkedIn: / fontawesome
🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!

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Myth, Meme, or Madness? The Truth About Ballmer’s Peak 🤔 Dec 10, 2024

Show notes

🍺 What’s the deal with the Ballmer Peak? Myth, meme, or just good old-fashioned developer humor? In this episode of Podcast Awesome, we unpack the hilarity and history behind this coding legend, complete with personal stories, team insights, and a responsible PSA. Whether you’re debugging at 3 a.m. or just love a good laugh, this episode has something for everyone.
(And check out the episode on our YouTube for an even more fun! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb77NS_zFgQ)
🍻 0:00 - Introduction to Ballmer's Peak
💡 1:31 - What Is Ballmer's Peak?
🎉 3:13 - Ballmer's Peak at Font Awesome Snuggle
⚡ 5:15 - Steve Ballmer and Developer Energy
🚀 7:07 - Achieving Peak Developer Performance
🎶 8:32 - Real Developer Strategies for Peak Performance
🔬 9:06 - DIY Breathalyzer and Exploring Ballmer's Peak
🎬 10:23 - Conclusion and Credits
Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com/
The Font Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin
Audio mastering by Chris Enns and Lemon Productions
Font Awesome on Social
🌤️ Bluesky: @fontawesome.com
🐦 Twitter/X: @fontawesome
📸 Instagram: @font.awesome
💼 LinkedIn: / fontawesome
🖥️ Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more nerdery, tech insights, and fun!

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The Logic Defying Way to Creating an Awesome Place to Work Nov 26, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt chats with Font Awesome co-founder Dave Gandy about building a workplace that doesn’t just work — but works for everyone. Whether you’re hustling in a startup, navigating open-source communities, or just trying to figure out if your boss actually values your humanity, this one’s for you.
Dave dishes on the magic of finding the right co-founder (hint: they need to tell you when you're off your rocker), why open-source is about more than just writing code, and how empathy might just be the ultimate leadership hack. So, if you’re dreaming of cultivating a positive work culture — or just want to avoid soul-sucking jobs — this episode is for you.
Timestamp Summary
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 0:15 | Finding Balance and Empathy in Co-Founder Relationships
🏢 6:04 | Finding a Workplace That Values Employees as Human Beings
🌐 14:56 | The Value of Empathy and Community in Open Source
💡 19:29 | Empathy and Leadership: Building Teams That Care
🎙️ 24:27 | Behind the Scenes of Podcast Awesome Production
Key Takeaways:
The Co-Founder Code: Pick a partner who balances your strengths and isn’t afraid to call out your crazy ideas (yes, you have them).
Open Source Awesomeness: It’s not just about profit—it’s about passion, collaboration, and making something bigger than yourself.
Empathy is Everything: Forget power suits; your best leadership tool is actually understanding your team.
Work-Life Reality Check: When scouting a new job, look for a place that respects *you*, not just what you produce.
Leadership Done Right: The best managers focus on building teams that are better than them at what matters most.
Notable Quotes:
💡 “You need someone next to you that’s going to tell you when you’re crazy—or not—and that is of *such* extreme value.”
💖 “Empathy is your qualification for leadership.”
🚀 “Management is more about how you inspire and execute, not just delivering outcomes.”
🏆 “The best managers hire people who are better than them at the job that needs to be done.”
🌟 “You call it a lifestyle company like it’s a bad thing. Spoiler: every company is a lifestyle.”

Resources:
🎨 Font Awesome: FontAwesome.com
🐦 Twitter: @fontawesome
📸 Instagram: @font.awesome
🌌 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/fontawesome.com
🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/
🎵 Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/
🎛️ Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/

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Nerd Show and Tell: Meet Zach Leatherman Nov 19, 2024

Show notes

Ready to geek out? In this episode of Podcast Awesome's Nerd Show and Tell, Matt sits down with none other than Zach Leatherman, the tech dynamo and creator behind Eleventy — the static site generator that’s got web devs buzzing. Zach’s tech-world experience is a wild ride of innovation, grit, and love for the open web. With a little help from our team here at Font Awesome, Zach’s pushing to make open-source sustainable and bring back the glory days of personal websites, free from algorithm overlords.

Zach gets real about the rollercoaster ride of building Eleventy and why owning your corner of the internet is more important than ever. Expect some hot takes on the tech industry, social media, and how platforms like Eleventy could just be the ticket to a new wave of web independence. Plus, you’ll get a peek into the collaborative brainpower with our founders Dave and Travis backing Zach’s mission. Hold onto your icons — this one’s packed!

Key Takeaways:

Eleventy: Zach’s creation was inspired by Jekyll, but it’s packed with unique features — no messy databases or plugins here! Simple, secure, and seriously impressive.
Sustainable Open Source: Zach’s career shines a light on the need for open-source projects to be sustainable, allowing devs to thrive without burning out.
Browser Dev Tools Love: Remember Firebug? Zach does. He spills on how these tools have shaped modern web development practices.
Indie Web Comeback: Forget the social media maze. Zach’s all about owning your digital real estate, championing a return to independent web publishing.
Font Awesome Collab: It’s a team effort! With the support of our founders and a shared mission, we’re backing Zach and Eleventy for a brighter, algorithm-free web future.

Timestamp Summary
🚀 0:00 | Zach Leatherman Discusses Eleventy and Open Source Challenges

💸 1:59 | Navigating the Challenges of Open Source Project Funding

⚖️ 13:04 | Balancing Open Source Passion with Sustainable Business Models

🌟 20:15 | The Joy of Building Websites and Creative Storytelling

🧻 25:26 | Debating the Proper Way to Hang Toilet Paper

🌌 26:27 | Eleventy's Future and Integration into the Awesome Universe

Links and Resources:

Credits:

Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/
Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/
Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/

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Why 'Lifestyle Company' Is a Badge of Honor at Font Awesome Nov 07, 2024

Show notes

🎙 In this episode, Font Awesome founder Dave Gandy joins our host Matt Johnson for an honest, unfiltered convo about what it means to build a *lifestyle company* (and wear that badge proudly 💪). This isn’t your typical startup hustle. We’re diving into the “people-first” culture that makes Font Awesome a standout, from character-driven hiring to redefining what success means beyond growth on charts and graphs. 🏆💼
As Dave says, instead of climbing someone else’s ladder, Font Awesome is building its own way up, with purpose, transparency, and some solid work-life balance goals. Here’s why we believe that putting *people* over profit isn’t just good business — it’s just the way the work should be. 🌱💼
🔑 Key Takeaways:
Lifestyle Company, Proudly: We’re embracing the “lifestyle” label, focusing on growth, happiness, and well-being over sky-high returns. 📈💆‍♂️

Character > Skills: At Font Awesome, character-first hiring = trust, respect, and people who actually *want* to stick around. 🫶✨
VC Vibes Not Required: Font Awesome skips the “thousand-X-or-bust” mentality for a sustainable, fulfilling work culture. 👋💸

Life Outside Work Matters: The best parts of life are outside the office—so why not bring those values in? 🏠🌅

The Right Partner in Crime: Success means finding a partner who balances your quirks. 👯‍♂️ The perfect co-founder is a friend, critic, and cheerleader rolled into one.
Timestamp Summary
0:12 | 🌱 Building a Lifestyle Company Focused on Well-Being and Growth
6:52 | 💼 Creating a People-First Company Against Conventional Practices
12:04 | 🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Human-Centric Product Design and Company Culture
15:59 | 🤝 The Importance of Balanced Partnerships in Business
20:38 | 🫶 Embracing a People-First Culture at Font Awesome
Links and Resources:

Podcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/
Font Awesome Hiring Philosophy: https://blog.fontawesome.com/company-culture/
Twitter: @fontawesome

Credits:

Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/
Music interstitials by Zach Malm: https://muzach.bandcamp.com/
Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/

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Character First: The Font Awesome Key to Hiring Success Oct 24, 2024

Show notes

In this edition of Podcast Awesome, Matt sits down with Font Awesome founder, Dave Gandy, at the 2024 Snuggle in Bentonville, Arkansas. Between karaoke sessions and Hoobastank choruses (blame Ed), Matt and Dave discuss a topic on a lot of minds lately: How do you build a company where people actually want to stick around?

With a tech industry average of just 18 months at a job, Font Awesome breaks the mold — no one has left in over 10 years. Dave and Matt dive into Font Awesome’s hiring philosophy, the importance of building a people-first culture, and how giving employees autonomy and treating them like adults might just be the magic recipe for success.

Key Takeaways:

Loyalty Beyond the Paycheck: At Font Awesome, it’s about treating people as humans first — loyalty comes from loyalty. Simple, right?
Hire for Character: Skills are important, but character and culture fit are what truly makes a team thrive.
Autonomy Matters: Give people the freedom to make decisions, and watch creativity and innovation skyrocket.
It’s Not Just Business: A company’s culture is built on everything someone brings from outside of work, not just the hours they log in the office.

Timestamp Breakdown:

0:05 | 🎤 Welcome to the Snuggle: Karaoke, Game Nights, & Company Culture
2:30 | 🏢 The Importance of Building a People-First Culture in Tech
6:45 | 🧠 How Loyalty and Trust are Built When You Hire for Character
11:10 | 👨‍💻 Autonomy is Key: Why Giving Employees Freedom is Essential
15:55 | 💡 Solving Problems vs. Solving Interesting Problems: Finding the Balance
21:30 | 🚀 How Font Awesome Created a Company People Want to Stick With

Links and Resources:

Podcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/
Font Awesome Hiring Philosophy: https://blog.fontawesome.com/company-culture/
Twitter: @fontawesome

Credits:

Theme music by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/
Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/

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The Great Debate: Web Fonts vs. SVGs – Which Should You Use? It Depends Oct 01, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Podcast Awesome, Matt and Rob take you on a wild ride through the evolution of web icons — because who doesn’t love a good glow-up story? From the pixelated mess of Geocities and MySpace days (RIP low-res images) to the sleek world of custom web fonts and SVG's moment in the sun, they break down each tech's pros and cons so you don’t have to.
Ever wondered how icons went from blurry to brilliant? We've got questions and Rob’s got the answers! He explains how web fonts came in like a hero to save the day, improving performance and making your designs look sharp when retina screens appeared on the scene. But wait—SVGs are here too, offering even more flexibility, accessibility, and crispness for those big graphic-heavy projects. Plus, with Font Awesome Kits, you’ll learn how to easily mix and match your icons for peak performance without breaking a sweat.
So. What kind of icon is best for your project — Webfont or SVG. Rob dodges the dogmatism and simply says, "well, it depends."
Key Takeaways:

Evolution of Icon Technology: An overview of the shift from low-resolution images to web fonts and SVGs, highlighting their impact on web design.
Pros and Cons: Detailed comparison of the advantages and disadvantages of web fonts and SVGs, including aspects like performance, accessibility, and usability.
Font Awesome Kits: Explanation of how Font Awesome Kits help developers navigate between web fonts and SVGs, offering features to optimize icon usage.
Accessibility and Semantics: Discussion on the importance of accessibility and semantic considerations in choosing icon technology.
Practical Advice: Guidance on how to decide between web fonts and SVGs for specific projects, with practical examples and insights.
Timestamp Summary
0:09 | 🌐 The Evolution of Icon Tech on the Web
2:16 | 🖼️ Evolution of Web Icons from Images to Custom Fonts
7:33 | ⚡ Web Fonts Versus SVGs for Faster and Accessible Icons
12:13 | 🔍 Choosing Between SVG and Other Formats Depends on Your Project
13:01 | 🎬 Web Fonts Versus SVG: Pros and Cons for Icon Animation
15:40 | 🛠️ Making Web Fonts Accessible with Font Awesome Kits
16:57 | 🎨 Advantages and Challenges of Using SVGs for Web Icons
20:17 | 🚀 Optimizing Font Awesome: Web Fonts vs SVG
26:40 | 🔧 Simplifying Font Awesome Upgrades with Kits
28:27 | ✅ Making the Right Choice: SVG Versus Web Font
Podcast Awesome: https://www.podcastawesome.com/
Font Awesome Pro: Level up with Font Awesome Pro!
Webfont or SVG: Well, it Depends: https://blog.fontawesome.com/svg-or-webfont/
https://fontawesome.com/plans
Twitter: @fontawesome
The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/
Audio mastering by Chris Enns at Lemon Productions: https://www.lemonproductions.ca/

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The Story Behind the Poo-Storm Icon Sep 17, 2024

Show notes

💩⚡️ Hold onto your butts, folks, because this episode of Behind the Icon on Podcast Awesome is about to get ... messy! We’re diving headfirst into the iconic history of one of Font Awesome’s quirkiest creations — the Poo-Storm icon. But if not for the creation of a stinker of a particular emoji, the poo-storm icon may never have come to fruition.
It all starts with the legendary rise of the poo emoji, a cultural masterpiece that has made its way into countless texts, memes, and conversations (whether you admit it or not). 💬
This episode is packed with everything you never knew you needed to know about emoji and icons, including a hilarious behind-the-scenes look at how Jory Raphael, Font Awesome’s own Icon Making Boss, got an icon mash-up idea. From the humble beginnings of the cloud icon to its thunderous twist into a storm of poo, Jory breaks it all down with plenty of laughs and middle-school humor. ✨💩
And yes, "icon creation", "poo emoji origin", and "Font Awesome magic" are the real stars here. Whether you're a design nerd or just here to catch a case of the goofballs, this episode is sure to entertain. 💥
Key Takeaways:
💩 The history of the poo emoji dates back to the late '90s in Japan 🇯🇵, thanks to Shigetaka Kurita, who basically invented emoji communication as we know it.
⚡️ And when boredom and eye-crossing monotony set in on a particularly long day of icon design, Jory Raphael mashed up the poo emoji into something even more fun — thus the Poo-Storm icon was born. 💡 Humor + design is the name of the game at Font Awesome!
🌍 Thanks to the Unicode Consortium, the poo emoji officially went global in 2010, becoming the symbol for all things cheeky and lighthearted in digital communication.
🎨 Font Awesome’s philosophy? Playful design with a side of absurdity — the Poo Storm icon embodies this perfectly.
🚽 Pro tip: The Poo Storm icon isn’t just for giggles — it’s been spotted in the wild at a plumbing company, proving even the weirdest icons have a purpose!
Timestamp:
0:09 - The Evolution and Cultural Impact of the Poop Emoji 💩
4:58 - The Creation of the Poo Storm Icon ⚡️
8:04 - The Perfect Use of a Fun Icon 🚽
10:20 - Clever Use of Poo Storm Icon on a Home Inspections Website 🏠
12:26 - Awesome Theme Song and Video Editing Credits 🎶
Notes:
💡 Shigetaka Kurita: https://emojipedia.org/shigetaka-kurita/
🔤 Unicode Consortium: https://unicode.org
💩 The Poo-storm Icon: https://fontawesome.com/icons/poo-storm?f=classic&s=solid
🏠 ROI Home Inspections: https://roihomeinspections.com/
🎨 Font Awesome: https://fontawesome.com
🐦 Twitter: @fontawesome: https://twitter.com/fontawesome
📸 Instagram: @font.awesome: https://www.instagram.com/font.awesome
💬 Threads: @font.awesome https://www.threads.net/@font.awesome
💼 LinkedIn: Font Awesome: https://www.linkedin.com/company/fontawesome
🎶 The Podcast Awesome theme song was composed by Ronnie Martin: https://ronniemartin.org/

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