[Rain update][images/clips][Eng trans] PFC JiHoon Jung’s interview with the MMA.

•April 12, 2012 • 6 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

Edited to Add: Source credit: the MMA / courtesy of ratoka @YT.

°

Rain’s ambassadorship and interview with the Military Manpower Administration, 4/10/2012

Source: The MMA Blog on Daum

Original English translation by 화니 @The Cloud / Loose translation, edits, and asides in brackets by Stephe @Cloud USA

Video 1: Ambassadorship

~1:00

Rain : As the South Korean soldiers’ face to the world, I’ll do my best to fulfill my role as honorary ambassador. Contrary to popular belief, you can learn many things from the military service. I’m sure it’ll be a rewarding experience, and I’ll do everything I’m obligated to do. Thank you. Loyalty!

1:06

MC : Please give a warm round of applause for PFC “Jung Ji Hoon” (Rain).

1:17

-Time to communicate with Rain’s juniors-

1:18~1:30

MC : Entertainers tend to add on to their heights when they talk about it. You are very tall. So, how tall are you?

Rain : 185cm.

1:33~2:47

MC : “Jung Ji Hoon’ stood 183cm tall when he had a physical examination for the draft about 12 years ago. Do you remember what your weight was at that time?

Rain : I can’t remember.

MC : If you know the answer, raise your hand.

Person A : 78kg.

Rain : I think he has got the right answer.

MC : A small gift will be provided for him.

MC : It’s a gift that his mother will really like.

3:13 ~3:35

– Q &A time –

Rain : After leaving the military, I’ll return to work as a singer, as a dancer, and as an actor. I think I can let my activities run bigger and wilder than ever before then, and I think it’ll be a lot of fun, so my expectations are higher than ever before.

3:36~3:47

Rain : From the standpoint of those who haven’t served yet in the military, I guess hard tack(건빵) can’t be truly felt [the appreciation of it understood — S.^@@^] . But I’m sure you’ll really like to have some hard tack when you are enlisted and trained someday.

3:56~4:04

Rain : During vacation, I tried eating my favorite food many times.

Video 2: Ambassadorship

~0:34

Q : How do you feel about being a honorary ambassador for the Military Manpower Administration (MMA)?

Rain: It’s a great honor, and I’ll work hard as a honorary ambassador for MMA.

0:38~0:48

Q : Where did you have a physical examination for draft?

Rain : I did it here.

Q : How old were you when you had an examination at that time?

Rain : The age of 19.

0: 49~1:09

Q : I think this place reminds you of old memories again.

Rain : I’ve been here for the first time in nearly 12 years. When I first went to this place, it all felt very alien to me, but now I’ve been serving in the military, therefore it looks familiar.

1:11~1:26

Q : Doesn’t an image of your old form come to you?

Rain : Being here reminds me of my old form, and I am filled with emotions as I think about the past.

1:27~1:49

Q : What would you like to say to those who are here for a physical examination for the draft?

Rain : Please feel free to join the military, and enjoy the military service.

1:51~2:09

Q : What kind of activities will you do in the year ahead?

Rain : I hope to make a great impression on people with information activities.

Q : What would you like to say to your friends who are entertainers who are about to  join the military?

Rain : It is their duty to serve in the military, so I hope they will enjoy the military service.

2:45~3:25

Q : What advice would you give to your soldier mates who have broken up with their girlfriends since they joined the military?

Rain : Frankly, out of sight seems to be out of mind. They’ve had a hard time after breaking up with their girlfriends, so it would be better for the people (who are about to join the army) to enter the armed services when they have no girlfriends.

3:44~4:01

Q : What advice did the people around you give to you before your military service?

Rain :Unlike the past, current soldiers are not rigorously controlled and the military service encourages much more flexibility than before. If you have any doubts, make sure for yourself.

4:02~

Q : What would you like to say to those who are to join the Army?

Rain : If they adapt themselves to their environment, there will be a day when things will open up for them.

Written Article on Daum: MMA interview

Q : Congratulations on becoming an honorary ambassador for the Military Manpower Administration (MMA). Would you say a few words about it?

Rain : It’s a great honor, and I’d like to work hard to make a good impression as a honorary ambassador for the MMA.

Q : Where did you have your first-ever physical examination for the draft?

Rain : I did it at Seoul Regional Military Manpower (=MMA) here.

Q : I think this place reminds you of old memories again.

Rain : I had a physical examination for the draft at 19, so I’m here for the first time in nearly 12 years. When I first came to this place, it all felt very alien to me, but now that I’ve been serving in the military, it looks familiar and I want to pleasantly speak with those who are here to have a physical examination for the draft.

Q : How are you enjoying your life in the Army?

Rain : At first, I thought I was cut adrift from society, I seemed unable to meet my family and friends, I couldn’t eat what I liked, et cetera, so it was so hard to adjust to the military. But now I’m enjoying my time in the military, overcoming difficulties.

Q : I know you were selected as an ultra warrior, right?

Rain : Yes. Just as some day you’re rewarded if you work off steam, a few days’ leave of absence per year is usually granted to soldiers if they are diligently trained at the military.

To become an ultra warrior, you should do more than 80 sit-ups in two minutes and clock less than 12m 30s in 12km sprint. And you should shoot down over 90% of targets during a day and night rifle drill. You must work hard to achieve your goal. I felt I had hit the wall during the training, but my efforts paid off.

Q : What did you do on your reward vacation?

Rain : I think I took ten meals a day. I heartily ate what I like..^^

All images in this post courtesy of the MMA @blog.Daum.net

Q : Do you receive the same salary as other soldiers do ?

Rain : Yes, of course. I’m living in abundance by my salary.

Q : Do you have any plans to have double-eyelid surgery done?

Rain : It’s worth considering. I’ll seriously think about it at a certain age..^^ [A “certain age”… in other words, when he gets old enough for his eyesmile to become permanent and people start heading off to the surgeon to reclaim their lost Fountain of Youth, heheh… and yet all the posts and articles are sounding like he’s going to do it like tomorrow. Honestly, folks? LOL – S.^@@^]

Q : Do you have a girlfriend?

Rain : I wish I had a girlfriend, but I have no girlfriend right now.

Q : Do you have any pictures showing girl groups?

Rain : I don’t have any of those pictures because nobody is giving them to me, [Liar liar pants on fire! LOL 😛 – S.^@@^] but try coming here and finding out. Girl groups are soldiers’ only pleasure..^^

Q : Is hardtack delicious?

Rain : Keke..Yes, it tastes really good. I would eat the same thing every day and never grow tired of it.

Q : What kind of plans do you have after you leave the military?

Rain : After leaving the military, maybe I’ll return to work as a singer, as a dancer, and as an actor. I think I can let my activities run bigger and wilder than ever before then, and I think it’ll be a lot of fun, so my expectations are higher than ever before.

Q : What would you like to talk to those who are about to join the Army?

Rain : In my experience, an imminent break from the society can be hard for you at first, but I want to tell you to enjoy it. Since the Army moves at the word of command, it is very hard at first. If you adapt yourselves to your environment, there will be a day when things will open up for you. And you’ll make a difference in 21 months’ time.

So stop procrastinating about the inevitable and enjoy your military service without further ado. Of course I understand how those who are here to have a physical examination for draft are feeling..^^ You could find the job tiring at first but you’ll soon get used to it, and I guess you have a lot to learn about your military life while you are serving in the military. You can have pride for yourself because you acted honorably.

Q : Are you doing just fine at the military?

Rain : Yes!! I was so nervous at first, but I felt at home once I was in the military. Also, I’ve always prided myself on [my intention to] fulfill military duty as a Korean man.

Mothers all over the world say, “One day you’ll be sorry that you didn’t study harder at school”, and by the same token, nothing is impossible if you set your mind to it even in the military. Please do not miss the precious phase in your lives. Your military service will ever remain a delightful memory.

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Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain interviews, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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Awesome K-Pop Moment of the Week: K-Pop Coverer JD Relic

•April 11, 2012 • 4 Comments

~ Cloud cover by: Terri Robinson :-}, Managing Editor

For those of you who don’t already know, cover contests have now become a regular part of the music industry.  Almost every musical entertainer out there has used a cover contest of some sort to promote their business, even here in the U.S.

For die-hard fans, these contests are a lot of fun, and serve as a chance to get their face in front of their favorite idols and maybe win some nifty prizes.  But others?  Well, they’re a bit different.  Some people who regularly participate in cover contests do it hoping that somehow, somewhere, someone in the industry will take note of their talents and abilities and give ’em a call.

Take Jeff Darcy, a.k.a JD Relic, for example.  JD recently entered into BigBang’s Blue and Bad Boy Cover Contest with an English version that he wrote of their song Blue.

JD’s English cover was so good that he made it to the finals.  Right now he’s listed at #5.  The winners will be announced on April 17, just so you’ll know.

For those of you who don’t know JD Relic, we introduced him to you way back in June 2010, when he wrote a superb English version of Rain’s Hip Song.

At the time, I had been enjoying JD’s English K-Pop covers for awhile, but JD’s ability to translate Hip Song into English without losing any of the impact or intent of the song, was exceptional.  Stephe and I both thought at the time that this guy was going to go far.

Well, you can imagine my delight when I discovered today that JD’s talent for translating Korean lyrics into coherent English and his musical talents have not gone unnoticed.  He is now signed with Marcan Entertainment, where he works with Ryan Jhun, the producer of U-Kiss’s 2nd studio album.  JD was credited for contributing to U-Kiss’s song Neverland (arranger and chorus), a song designed to highlight U-Kiss members’ stellar vocals without autotuning.  He is credited for his work on Baby Don’t Cry and  Top That on that album as well.

Isn’t that just freaking AWESOME?  :-}

All I can say is this.  For those of you out there whose families might think making covers is a ridiculous waste of time, maybe they’d better think again.  YouTube is one of the most powerful promotional tools in the world, and a lot of people are using it to achieve great successes.

You don’t think so?  Just ask Justin Bieber—or his mom.  :-}

Written by Terri@ cloudusa.org

Posted in American pop, Asian pop, Cloud USA, Korean pop
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[quickie][fan made] Oh. Slowly.

•April 11, 2012 • 4 Comments

It’s been a l-o-n-g time. And you know how I am about Rain singing in Japanese. Mmmmmm. As always, lyrics are here. ^@@^ Bi Rain – Slowly. (Credit and edit: GabytaAsiadicta @YT)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain fan videos, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[clip] PFC JiHoon Jung (Rain) at the April 5th Reservist Day Special event.

•April 11, 2012 • 2 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

You’ve heard the audio and read the translation in our previous post HERE, as broadcast on Friends FM.

Now check out the video.

(Video source credit: DEMA / courtesy of ratoka @YT)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[images] Tweets abound: The Remember Rain 10th Anniversary Diary.

•April 11, 2012 • 9 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

So doggone cute! (It even has the heart-face that Rain drew for the Blue 8th Cloud membership T-shirts pressed into the cover. Aw. ♥) » Our previous post on how to pre-order this planner/diary is HERE.

(Images credit: RAINY Entertainment @Twitter, 4/9/2012)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon, RAINY Entertainment announcement
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[article] Rain Appointed Honorary Ambassador of the Military.

•April 11, 2012 • 2 Comments

— ^@@^

eNewsWorld 4/11/2012 —

Rain Appointed Honorary Ambassador of the Military

Rain has been appointed this year′s military ambassador.

The singer, who currently serves as a PR agent for the Defense Media Agency (DEMA), attended the ceremony held at the Military Manpower Administration (MMA) on April 10 to receive his appointment plaque from the director of the MMA.

Director Kim asked Rain, as the newly-appointed ambassador, to “let the youth know that they should be proud and honored to be serving their military duties.”

The ambassador role was previously taken up by Lee Dong Gun and Seo Ji Seok. “I will probably play a small role, but I′ll work hard to let people know about the changed conscription administration and have those who served their duties be more looked up to and honored in society,” said Rain.

Rain began his promotions as the ambassador at the ceremony with a speech for the draftees who were there for their physical examinations and talked about his own experiences in the military.

Rain will be promoting the military by modeling for MMA and attending the military cultural festival during his year of service.

The singer enlisted in October 2011 and was transferred to DEMA mid-March.

Translation Credit : Erika Kim

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[results] Best Male Dancer on Allkpop: Round 1 of the tourney is done!

•April 11, 2012 • 8 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

You “done good”, Clouds! Rain has won his bracket in Round 1 of the Allkpop Fan Tournament for Best Male Dancer.

For Round 2, which starts TODAY, he’s in the semi-finals against Eunhyuk, who also made a great showing the first go-round. This one’s going to be a little tougher, so be on your game. Put the pedal to the metal, and have fun. (Don’t let haters bother you, and don’t play the Hate Game yourself. The things we do reflect on Rain; let that water roll right off your back, like a duck. Why are you reading comments anyway? Who has time for that? Be good and enjoy yourselves! Fighting!) 🙂 ^@@^

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[quickie][fan made] Come here, rude boy-boy, is ya big enough…

•April 11, 2012 • 7 Comments

N-i-c-e. — ^@@^ Rain 비(Bi) is a Rude Boy Fanvid. (Credit and edit:  DeciderataSM @YT / Music: Rihanna, “Rude Boy”)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain fan videos, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[RAINY Ent][info] Do you need a new planner/diary? Remember Rain!

•April 10, 2012 • 7 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

If you do need something new, or if you just want another one for the sake of it, Rain and RAINY Entertainment are making a Remember Rain Diary available in celebration of his 10th anniversary in the business, which comes at the end of this month. (Remember? The last week in April 2002 was when it began Raining in earnest on the Korean peninsula.)

Sounds good to us, having a Yellow Ribbon calendar you can hang on your wall or keep on your desk, desktop or nightstand, and a Remember Rain planner/diary to write your deepest thoughts in, share in Rain, keep your schedule and take it with you when you’re on the go! Why not? 🙂

Notices were released by RAINY Entertainment on Rain’s official website HERE, and HERE. As of this posting, the price(s) has not been released, and will be determined later by as how much money it will take for them to produce and ship to each global region (there will be separate payment notices for each region). Right now, they seem to be looking for an estimation of how many diaries they’re going to be dealing with.

If you’re in the U.S.A., Latin America, Hong Kong, or China: your pre-order email should go to overseas fan coordinator Heidi (rainhuhu@hotmail.com) and should only contain your name, country, quantity of diaries, mailing address, and cell/mobile#. If you’re in Taiwan, Thailand, or VietNam, your email should go to cloudmaster Cindy (cloud8taiwan@gmail.com). (I imagine Japan will be handled by cloudmaster Hina.) Other regions, send your emails directly to RAINY Entertainment (rainyent.cloud@gmail.com).

Pre-orders are being taken from now until April 27.

If any more information is forthcoming, we’ll bring that to you. Thanks.

— Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / CloudUSA.org

(CLICK on Cloud USA screen shots for full size)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon, RAINY Entertainment announcement
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[audio clips link][Eng summary] Hilarity abounds: PFC Rain on 96.7 Friends FM radio.

•April 10, 2012 • 12 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Manging Editor ^@@^

(Rain and friends at Friends FM. Image credit: http://www.dema.mil.kr)

I kid you not, as we listened to JiHoon on the radio Monday morning, Terri and I were like:

He’s so happy and relaxed, very cool. That’s nice to hear. Yeah, relaxed. Hmm… hopefully not too relaxed. LOL! (a pause) Oooh… this does NOT sound like the usual interview where he’s watching his words, does it? (another pause) Nope. Those loose lips might be sinking some ships. (pause) Guuuurl. Just listen to him chatting all willy-nilly and them cracking up. The translation is going to be a trip-and-a-half! LMAO

And indeed it is.

JiHoon the Jokester, at large. My gut is still busted from laughing. (You are soooo on your own now, dude. Just sayin’. LOL)

Enjoy, all.

» You can listen to the audio clips in our previous post HERE.

[Original English translation by 화니 @The Cloud / Loose translation, edits, and asides in brackets by Stephe @Cloud USA]

– Brief English summary based on Rain –

1. (As one of the lowest ranked of the members, Rain introduced himself first) I [don’t] think I’ve been on the radio for two years. If I get out of here now, I could see Yeouido before me. (The Yeouido area constituted the base of his [career] activities when he was in society)

2. Rain: When I rose to the rank of Private First Class, I felt literally on top of the world, but I should have joined the military a little earlier. The sooner I began, the sooner I could have finished it. But now that I have served in the military, a load is off my mind.

3. Rain: I found a netizen had posted a malicious comment that said, “Rain’s farts stink really bad” to an Internet article on today’s honorary ambassador for Defense Agency for Public Information Services event. It’s emphatically not true, and I always wash myself clean. I flatter myself that I have no equal in keeping myself clean. [I’ll bet money on the “clean”. The Hoonie is meticulous in his grooming. Though the outside may not have much to do with the inside, as I’ve discovered on this side of the Pacific, just sayin’… 😉 – S.^@@^]

4. Rain: Getting a salary increase here occurs with great rarity, so I can barely make ends meet with my current salary of a little more than ₩80,000 a month. [$70. bucks? Dude, that’s rough! – S.^@@^]

5. Rain: The more comments the better. Doesn’t matter if they’re good or bad. (MC:  Rain was really very human when I got to know him.) “I’m still feeding only on dew, so I rarely go to the restroom and I have to take opening medicine.” I think the joke is so corny. [Wow, you can tell when a netizen really has no life. They pull a laxative joke out of their @ss. In 2012. 😦 – S. ^@@^]

6. Rain: When I performed last time (March 26th), my clothes fit so tightly that I was about to pop right out of them even though the clothes originally fit me just right. Boy, was I embarrassed! So I’m trying to refrain from eating larger-than-usual portions. [I didn’t have a problem with it. No sir! Did any of you? – S. ^@@^]

7. Rain: Since you (the MC) forced me to eat a lot a couple of days ago, I was admitted to hospital because of acute indigestion. You shouldn’t have forced me to eat too much. (MC: I just wanted to chat over a meal.)

8. Rain: When the sound of soft music (something that Park Hyo Shin wrote and sang) emanated from the training ground, my heart was in my mouth the whole time.

9. Rain: I welcome any woman, tall or small. [After six months, I imagine you would, bucko. 🙂 – S.^@@^]

I think I still have no equal in performing. Just kidding. [No you’re not. You’re not kidding in the least, you ham. LOL! – S.^@@]

10. Rain: I guessed that my leg and lower back had hurt probably because I had poor circulation whenever I had performed, but when I went for a check-up for the leg pains, the leg turned out to be in an abnormal curvature. I don’t think it’s that serious, but I’ll probably need professional help someday with relaxing [it] as much as possible.

11. Rain: Can you give me the song “I Do” before I go to sleep? (Park Hyo Shin sings a little bit of “I Do”) Well you were willing, I think I can get a good night’s sleep [now]. I could be very thankful for that.

12. Rain: I was getting too many parcels from my fans when I was in a unit attached to the 5th Division before, and it was so hard to arrange those things, so when I asked them not to do that, they hardly send presents to me now. And contrary to other members [soldiers], I felt left out. I said it just for fun. My fans tend to be obedient. (They tend to lap up everything I tell them. [Oh, snaps. You may have completely effed yourself now, Hoonie, in a couple of ways, depending on WHICH sentence you said for fun. Hahaha – S.^@@^]

13. Rain: I always clean up our barrack. In my recruit [days], a squad [mate] ranked higher than me, who is 9 years younger than me, threw a mop to me and told me to wash it, with a smile. I picked up the mop on the ground and washed it diligently. It was a day I’ll never forget. (One of his troop-mates in the studio: “I want to see Rain doing that here as well.” A roar of laughter goes up.) If that’s what you think, I’ll just sit on a sofa, not cleaning.

14. Rain: I’m about to celebrate the 10th anniversary of my debut, but I think I look the same as I did 10 years ago.

15. One of his troop-mates: “Rain is tall and has a very nice build. I discovered, when we had to bathe together, that Rain has hips like black folks. His hips are so hot that I bet he wouldn’t even bleed from the hips if I cut them. [Good god. LOL! I think this a good thing. Sort of like when Rain complimented Hyori a few years ago about having Beyoncé thighs, that prime horse flesh, thick, strong, durable, just the right shape… er… pardon me for a moment while I try to un-see that last sentence about cutting. *lost in translation, so lost in translation*– S.^@@^]  

16. Rain: My hips are the most attractive part of my body, and my eyes are the second attractive part. (Everyone bursts into laughter at his actions)

17. MC: Rain’ll make a guest appearance on this program every Wednesday.

18. Rain: I’d like to switch to a Thursday evening schedule if possible because I have so many things to do in the battalion.

19. MC: I can take your shift on Wednesday if you want.

20. One of his troop-mates: Seeing Rain isn’t receiving many gifts from his fans, I don’t think he is a world star. [You instigator! LOL – S.^@@^]

21. Rain: As already noted, it’s because I asked them not to send me too many gifts.

22.  One of his troop-mates: My fans are turning a deaf ear to my entreaties and continue sending me gifts, unlike you.

23. Rain:  My fans do what I tell them to do. (Everyone laughs good-naturedly) [*chuckle* Keep on digging that grave, JiHoon. kekeke – S.^@@^]

24. Rain: My seniors like Park Hyo Shin mean more to me than anything in the world even though we are fated never to meet again after leaving the military. (A gust of laughter) I’ll present you my sunglasses soon.

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain interviews, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[26/91 weeks done][Song of the week][calendar] 비 Yourself Open Thread for 4/10 – 4/16.

•April 10, 2012 • 5 Comments

» Your Cloud USA Yellow Ribbon for Rain Calendar is here! JiHoon’s copy, printed and spiral-bound, has been shipped to him in South Korea. DOWNLOAD it (for free) and count down the days to his military discharge with your fellow CloudUSAers and your favorite soldier.

» You can visit the previous Open Thread HERE. And of course, don’t forget that our Cloud USA Forum is a most excellent place for Rain love, fan communication, and self-expression.

By the way — have you left a message for JiHoon on The Cloud today?

» Our Project page for newbies on how to register for and USE the Official Cloud Rain Fan Club site in S.Korea is HERE.)

» Cloud USA disclaimer. READ it.

°

The Yellow Ribbon for Rain Brigade is still growing. (HUGE thanks to the suave SooBong for continuing to sport a Cloud USA Yellow Ribbon For Rain on his Twitter in support of his little brother in the military. That’s how you do it kostyle! ♥) Our dream of a stronger foundation of support for JiHoon is coming true. His dream of true world stardom that opens the door for those who come after him is at hand. Let’s keep on keeping on!

You can see JiHoon’s first letter to his Clouds and fans HERE, in our previous post. There are two options for sending snail-mail to JiHoon presently. For information on where to send handwritten cards and letters to him, please see our previous post HERE (military). For cards, letters, and gifts, do see our post HERE (office admin).

» Office admin Rainy Entertainment has a brand new Twitter.

» JiHoon was a guest on DJ radiojumam’s show on 96.7 Friends FM radio on Monday. He has officially reached the 6-month mark in his mandatory military duties. Oh, halleluia!

°

HEADS UP! Cloud USA will be mobile later on this week, as we will be getting our action-on at ActionFest 2012 in Asheville, North Carolina. More on that later!

SONG OF THE WEEK: “Same” (똑같아 / pronounced “ttoh-ggah-tah”), Track #4 on Rain’s Back To The Basic mini-album (2010). Rain and C-Luv put this little ditty together, and I feel that it should be more popular than it is. It’s a really cute song with a really cute vibe. If you’d like to take a look at the lyrics, » check out this video on YouTube. People’s hearts are originally the same like this, yes the hearts that love are all the same…

Courtesy of: ramutyan0909 @YT.  (You can also find this video to your right, at the very top of our media blog sidebar.) 

°

Our warm community of Clouds and Rain fans has grown by leaps and bounds in the past two years. Just so that we’re all up to speed, here are the nooks and crannies you can presently find yourself in.

Cloud USA Home
Cloud USA Media Blog
Cloud USA Facebook
Cloud USA Twitter
Cloud USA Fan Forum
Cloud USA YouTube Channel
Cloud USA TV on Livestream
Cloud USA Store

Yellow Ribbon For Rain Brigade

Just bear in mind that those nooks and crannies have lots more nooks and crannies of their own. And that there is more to come. So have fun. 🙂

Rain is Eternal. Where clouds stay gathered, rain will always come. It is inevitable.

— Stephe ^@@^

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon, usa cloud
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Beauty personified.

•April 10, 2012 • 6 Comments

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain Beauty, Bi Rain images, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[clip][Eng trans] PFC JiHoon Jung (Rain) is honored with a military ambassadorship.

•April 10, 2012 • 4 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe Managing Editor ^@@^

120410 Demaclub – Rain appointed Military ambassador. (Source credit: DEMA / courtesy of ratoka rain @YT)

[Original English translation by 화니 @The Cloud / Loose translation and edits by Stephe @Cloud USA]

I thank the MMA chief for naming me an honorary ambassador for the Military Manpower Administration, and as South Korea’s “face” or the face of soldiers to the world, I’ll do my best to fulfill my role as honorary ambassador.

Contrary to popular belief, I find you can learn many things from military service. I’m sure it’ll be a rewarding experience, and I’ll do everything I’m obligated to do.

Thank you. Loyalty (allegiance)!

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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Soldier check.

•April 10, 2012 • 1 Comment

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

4/10/2012: PFC JiHoon Jung is named a military ambassador. (That’s what it says on his sash. Military Ambassador Rain. ^@@^) Images as tagged.

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain images, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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Let’s play… What’s that scenario?

•April 10, 2012 • 5 Comments

— Harmless fun by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

“I’m gonna be a bad boy, I’ve gotta be a bad boy, I’m gonna be a bad bad boy, I’ve gotta be a bad boy…” 😛

KCM: “Dude, you’re showing me up! What’s with extra shine?”

Rain: “Oh, that…”

Rain: “You know. World star.” 🙂

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain images, Bi Rain MILITARY, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[announcement] Another very special New on the Block.

•April 9, 2012 • 16 Comments

Lovely Clouds,

We are pleased to announce that longtime Cloud USA member and Korean Language & Cultures Study Group Leader, Dot Kelly, (many of you know her as dulcie) has accepted the position of Activities Director for Cloud USA

Dot, one of our Canadian Clouds, will be working with us to coordinate exciting activities and events, both on- and off-line, to make Cloud USA an even more dynamic place for new and veteran Rain fans alike.

Please join us in welcoming her to our staff, and please support her well.

Thanks everyone, and congratulations, Dot!

Stephe ^@@^ and Terri :-}

Posted in Bi Rain, Cloud USA, Cloud USA Activities & Events, Rain's Clouds, usa cloud
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[ETA Eng summary link][audio clips] PFC JiHoon Jung (Rain) is a special guest on 96.7 Friends FM radio.

•April 9, 2012 • 3 Comments

— Written by: Stephe Thornton, Managing Editor ^@@^

(Rain and friends at Friends FM. Image credit: http://www.dema.mil.kr)

{*Edited to Add: We have an English summary of Rain’s interview in a later post HERE. Thanks.}

It was indeed a pleasure to have Rain with my coffee this morning. Friends FM radio DJ radiojumam had Rain as a guest on his show bright and early Atlanta time (7 am), though across the International Dateline it was Monday evening at 8 pm in Seoul.

The military station played several Park HyoShin songs first, which is always welcome. PHS’s buttery voice will indeed warm the cockles of your heart—the man can sing. And then the DJ welcomed listeners to the show and warmed us up even more with Michael Jackson’s (feat. Akon) “Hold My Hand.” Wow. K-Pop girl group STELLAR was up next, fresh from being honored as ambassadors of DEMA’s Consolatory Train program for the troops. Such adorable young women! Though I’m not fluent in Korean, their lovely personalities came straight over the airwaves.

And then, half an hour into the show, the eagle I was waiting for landed. Our soldier boy invaded the premises. There was no mistaking the familiar timbre of JiHoon’s relaxed, happy voice, and Kim JaeWook and Im JuHwan were with him.

It was an hour and a half filled with laughter, excited chatter, and clear camaraderie amongst all four men as Rain immersed himself in the interview. At one point, one of the guys threw a quick bit of Rain’s song “I Do” into the mix. Hilarious. 🙂 When radiojumam used Rain’s song “Love Story” to end the show, I applauded. What a way to sign off.

This was a great two-hour way to start my day.

When a translation comes available, we’ll bring that to you here, dear fans. In the meantime, this post is Strictly for the Audio. Enjoy!

— Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / CloudUSA.org

(All audio clips credit source: Friends FM / courtesy of ratoka @YT)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[clip] K-pop group STELLAR, plus PFC Jung JiHoon (Rain) and fellow soldiers for DEMA.

•April 9, 2012 • Leave a Comment

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

4/9/2012: The members of lovely girl group STELLAR are made ambassadors of the 2012 Consolatory Train program sponsored by the Defense Agency for Public Information Services. Accompanying them are PFC Jung JiHoon (Rain), Corporal Yu Seung Chan, Corporal Park Hyo Shin, Corporal Kim Ji Hoon, PFC Lee Jin Ho, and PFC Kang Chang Mo.

12-04-09 demaclub – Rain at Defense Agency for Public Information Services. (Source: DEMA / courtesy of ratoka @YT)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[soldier check] Tweets abound: In the cafeteria, and on the radio.

•April 9, 2012 • 2 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^ 7:59 am EST / 8:59 pm KST

Various tweets from today and from 4/6, respectively.  I’m listening to the radiojumam show live on Friends FM as we speak. Rain and his boys are talking up a storm and laughing like there’s no tomorrow. Talk about having a good time!

Any translations for the show ought to be good. ^@@^ 🙂

(Tweet sources and Credits: as tagged)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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Soldier check #2.

•April 9, 2012 • 18 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

More of » this photo session in our previous post: Rain, his fellow soldiers, and K-pop girl group STELLAR for DEMA’s Consolatory Train program.

It might just be me, but JiHoon looks rather happy to finally have a girl in a skirt hanging on his arm again, bless him. heheh ^@@^ (Images credited to various media, as tagged)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain images, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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Soldier check.

•April 9, 2012 • 2 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

PFC Jung JiHoon, Corporal Yu Seung Chan, Corporal Park Hyo Shin, Corporal Kim Ji Hoon, PFC Lee Jin Ho, and PFC Kang Chang Mo join girl group STELLAR, who are honorary ambassadors for the Consolatory Train program sponsored by the Defense Agency for Public Information Services.

(Image media credits: as tagged. Image Sources: 어울림 the Oullim blog, demaclub @twitpic / kor_celebrities @twitpic)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain images, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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Beauty personified.

•April 7, 2012 • 8 Comments

(Courtesy of pollyanna. ^@@^)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain Beauty, Bi Rain images, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[audio clip/Eng trans][info] PFC JiHoon Jung on the April 5th Reservist Day Special Broadcast.

•April 7, 2012 • 8 Comments

— Written by: Stephe Thornton, Managing Editor ^@@^ 4:10 am EST

(cap courtesy of Rainstorm, Japan)

Well, about an hour and a half ago from the time in this post, dear fans, I finished listening to 96.7 Friends FM radio’s broadcast of the live Reservist Day 44th year special, where Park HyoShin and other soldiers entertained ROK reserve army members and Rain briefly showed his face. It was really, really cool. HyoShin straight up showed out and sang up a storm, as did all the singers. The MC kept the show going at a good pace. Rain’s chat with the MC, which came in the first 15 minutes or so after a couple of HyoShin songs, was brief, but boy, did the man sound good.

At first we (me, CloudUSAer Marisara, and Cloud Unite) weren’t quite sure if we were listening to the right program, but then we heard “world star…” and “Jung JiHoon… 비!” The troops started hollering. That smooth, familiar voice identified itself and began talking with the MC. And that was all she wrote. I was good for the night. LOL!

The whole show lasted around 90+ minutes. Here is an audio clip of Rain’s short chat with the host.

(Source: Friends FM / courtesy of ratoka @YT)

[English translation by 화니]

– Friends FM – 2시의휴게실 (The Lounge At 2:00PM) –

0:13~0:35
MC : We welcome a PR soldier who serves his duty of national defense in Defense Agency for Public Information Services, and he is a world-famous star and Korea’s lusty young man. His name is pfc ‘Jung Ji Hoon’ serving in Defense Agency for Public Information Services. Please welcome? Bi (Rain).

0:39~43
Rain : [Loyalty! ^@@^] This is Pfc ‘Jung Ji Hoon’ (Rain) Thank you.

0:45~1:05
MC : Since he is present, I lose my nerve and cannot approach him.
I think I’m a great favorite with the older generations, but I feel small in front of him. He looks more manly here. How do you feel when you stand here?

1:06~1:13
Rain : Thank you for inviting me to such a great event by having big seniors attend, and I feel honored to be here.

1:14~1:15
MC : I’ve heard you don’t feel well recently.

1:16~1:32
Rain : No, I mean.. I participated in a concert in Vietnam last time, which was followed another performance after that, and my legs, meanwhile, hurt a bit. So, it looks like performing this time will [would ^@@^] be difficult. I tried [wanted ^@@^] to show you wonderful stage performances today, but I’m afraid I have to take a rain check [A “rain check”… heheh!  Plenty of those on the blog, right, Terri? ^@@^]. I’ll give a great performance next time.

1:33~
MC : Do you understand the position he is in?
People : Yeah!

1:36~46
MC : How are you going to serve in the military?

1:47~2:12
Rain : I’ll work hard so that I won’t regret it afterwards, and thank the chief of Defense Agency for Public Information Services for treating his soldiers well. I’ll do my best in everything I do to be an inspiration to a lot of people. Thank you.

2;13~28
MC : You are very eloquent indeed. I’m afraid he has to go now. I’d like to invite him again if there is a chance. (People are clamoring to prevent him from going)

2:29
Rain : Thank you.

°

As we understand it, Rain and a few of his fellow soldiers are scheduled for a guest appearance on military radio show radiojumam on the 9th at 8 pm KST (which should be 7 am EST here in Atlanta). So if you’re interested in having a listen, I can tell you that the broadcast I listened to was as clear as crystal without one second of buffering. It felt like I was in Seoul. Quite surprising.

Just as surprising was that I downloaded and installed the StarCandy/Friends FM player in less than two minutes from the Korean Forces Network, watched the thing open up on my desktop, and listened right in. (Cloud Unite posted instructions on Twitter HERE.) I can’t guarantee that it’ll do the same for you, but it was so easy that I will say it’s definitely worth a shot.

Cloud Unite also suggested two other ways to listen to Friends FM that did not involve downloading the StarCandy player: 1) Open an Internet Explorer browser, enter mms://222.122.215.225/R2 as the web address you want to go to, and a player should open up for you, OR 2) use your IE browser to go to http://www.dema.mil.kr/, allow popups and activeXcontrol, and click radio. The radio should load for you then.

I experimented and tried additional suggestion #1 as well, and RealPlayer immediately opened up and let me listen to the show. Not only that, but I could record it.

(See? My StarCandy Player up in the corner, and RealPlayer blaring away in the center. All I had to do was mute one of them.)

Huge thanks to Cloud Unite and their sources for sharing this information and helping more Clouds listen to Friends FM. The Korean Forces Network will be JiHoon’s home away from home for the next year and three months. This will make it that much simpler to cheer him and his fellow entertainment soldiers on.

— Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com / CloudUSA.org

≈

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain interviews, Bi Rain MILITARY, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[posts] Mentholatum: Even Rain says, “Cool.”

•April 7, 2012 • Leave a Comment

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

This past week on the 5th, the official Mentholatum China microblog posted about their Icy Charoal face wash, which seems to have become quite popular since it hit the market in 2003. The gist is this: Its carbon cleansing power (pharmaceutical grade) siphons the dirt from men’s skin and leaves it so lustrous and glowing, even Rain can’t help shouting, “Cool!” Heheh. 🙂

Wake up your sleepy skin, guys! Give it a natural radiance every single day. ^@@^

(Source: Mentholatum @weibo / Caps by Cloud USA)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon, Rain MENtholatum
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[GIF] Rain .gif(t)s for you.

•April 7, 2012 • 10 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain images, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[quickie][fan made] Look what we just shared on Facebook…

•April 6, 2012 • Leave a Comment

^@@^ ~ Bi (Rain) How come…. Wae Hapil…… Video Mixx up!!!!!! (Credit and edit: juiceehott @YT)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain fan videos, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[Cloud USA video] Time after time.

•April 5, 2012 • 2 Comments

If you’re lost, you can look and you will find us, time after time… ^@@^ Bi, Rain -Time After Time- (Credit and edit: JJ @Cloud USA / CloudUSAChannel @YT / Music: Cyndi Lauper, “Time After Time”)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain fan videos, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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Cloudy Day: Fan art, inspired by Rain.

•April 5, 2012 • Leave a Comment

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

Jeremy Scott Rain by Mimikumo @deviant ART.

Cosmo 2003 Rain by B-yass @deviant ART.

“Let It Rain” by sora-jigoku @deviant ART.

Posted in Bi Rain, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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Cover to cover.

•April 5, 2012 • Leave a Comment

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

More of our cover guy for our 2-album collection on Facebook… Oh yes, we are cooking with gas. Rain’s covers never seem to stop!

(This Road For Rain Official Photos Book was released in Japan in 2007.)

(The title of this 184-page paperback on Amazon Japan from 2005 literally translates to “droplets wet the secret heart of Rain”. It seems to chronicle him exploding on the scene in Japan as an actor and singer and starting the Hallyu Wave.)

Posted in Bi Rain, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon, Rain magazine covers
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[clip][English] Ask The Ambassador: Who is your favorite K-Pop group or singer?

•April 5, 2012 • 2 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

Today, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul released its fourth installment in their Ask The Ambassador series, and Mr. Sung Kim, the U.S. Ambassador to Korea, was all too happy to share that he and his daughter were particularly fond of Rain, SNSD, and 2NE1. Thumbs up, sir! Mr. Kim also gave some insightful thoughts about Korea that are worth a listen.

So please enjoy.

Ask The Ambassador #4. (Source and credit: The U.S. Embassy in Seoul / USEmbassySeoul @YT)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[fan made] Revisiting 2011: He tweeted us well.

•April 4, 2012 • 1 Comment

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

{*Edited to Add: Continuing our Twitwalk with JiHoon… » remember some of these tweets, too? Aw, the fun we had! ♥ ^@@^}

Dear fans, do enjoy this wonderful walk down Twitter Lane with @29rain and the terrific stuff he shared with us last year.^^

Remembering it all individually is one thing. Seeing it all together like this is quite another. About half way through the video, I grabbed a hanky for a second. Aw. ♥

This was compiled by a Japanese Cloud, so if you’re interested in revisiting any of the actual tweets with English translations, we have them all here on our media blog. The search lists below, for Tweets Abound and @29rain, will help you to do that. But be prepared because the lists also include tweets about Rain by friends, colleagues, and other sources, and there are at least 175 posts total. What can I say? When it comes to JiHoon, we go hard or we go home.

So have fun and enjoy the ride. 🙂

» Search list: Tweets Abound.

» Search list: @29rain.

— Stephe @cloudusa.wordpress.com

@29rain twitter. (Credit and edit: yoyoluvrain @luvrain / yoyoluvrain @YT)

(Images credited to Rain @29rain)

Rain and Richard Gere image credit: 29rain @Twitter

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain fan videos, Bi Rain images, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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[quickie][fan made] Look what we just shared on Facebook…

•April 4, 2012 • Leave a Comment

We’re waiting very patiently. So don’t worry. Go on. Do your thing, hero. ♥ ^@@^ Rain ~[MV]~Hero We Waiting ~ (Credit and edit: BiRain625 @YT / Music: Enrique Iglesias, “Heroe”)

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain fan videos, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon
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U.S. Cloud on the street: Rain in the best K-Pop store in Korea.

•April 4, 2012 • 34 Comments

— Cloud cover by: Stephe, Managing Editor ^@@^

Please enjoy this from our lovely April Jackson, as posted on her blogspot, Pinkfashionninja. Once again, she has found “Rain” on his home turf. Awesome.

°

The BEST KPop Store in KOREA!!!!

Written by: April @Pinkfashionninja, 3/28/2012

All Images: Pinkfashionninja

Video credit: AprilShowers007 @YT

YES YES YES! I have found the best Music Store in Korea. It not only had every Kpop CD ever made, it also had A LIFE SIZE CUT OUT OF RAIN! OMG. Fangirl moment please!
So check out the video below to see all of the wonderfulness that was inside “Music Korea.” While watching you can scream if you want to 😉

Music Korea is located on the 3rd Floor of the huge Nature Republic on the first corner of Myeongdong. Trust me you can’t miss it. If you take the exit for the shopping area and start to walk down the street the Nature Republic will be on the left.

» Don’t stop now! You can read and see April’s adventure in its entirety on the Pinkfashionninja blogspot HERE.

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon, Korean pop
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[article] Which idol groups do French fans like the most?

•April 4, 2012 • 3 Comments

— ^@@^

WeLoveVictoriaSong 4/3/2012 —

Which idol groups do French fans like the most?

Big Bang and 2NE1 were voted as the favorite K-pop male and female bands in France.

Korea National Tourism Organization, with branches in France, conducted a poll through the tourist site to evaluate the preferences and behavior of oversea Hallyu fans. Of the 3,775 French fans who responded, 49.9% voted for Big Bang as the favorite boy group, while 2NE1 won 64.8% of the votes as the favorite girl group.

A high proportion of French male Hallyu fans preferred Big Bang, in addition to those in their early twenties. 2NE1 was favored similarly by both male and female fans, who were between the age of ten to twenty.

Other groups who ranked in the top were Super Junior (45%), SHINee (35.5%), B2ST (33.8%), 2PM (24.2%) for male groups, and Girls’ Generation (45.4%), miss A (31.5%), f(x) (29.4%), and T-ara (25.9%) out of the female groups.

Of the solo male singers, Rain earned 33.2% of the votes, while IU earned 54.2% of the votes as the favorite solo female singer.

Source: No Cut News via Nate, Asia Today via Nate

Credit: kdramacrazy via allkpop

Posted in Bi Rain, Bi Rain News, Cloud USA, Jung Ji Hoon, Korean pop
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