“Son don't cry for me, I have lived my dream”, the old mzee said amidst light smiles to his son. “Dad, I cry for the future, the clouds have gathered, mulling together for a fight, they are ready to consume me (sobs)”, the son replied. “Don't worry young man, the Lord of Shadrack, Meshack and Adednego is alive, listening to your troubles”Mzee reinforced. “But how? How dad? Its crushing me” the young man retorted. Just like a dream so real, a pain so fresh, Mzee succumbed to Cancer.
Many a times we have our dreams, but to this young boy, at his tender age, just 12 years old, he has had to live in frustrations, navigating between the garbage dumpsites and deserted cavings for shelter.Until the death of his fatther, this young boy exhibited exelent accedemic progress, he was always among the top best three in his local primary school. The story of this young man touched me to share with you, maybe you can sympathize, at times you can empathize and most fondly, you can help, to help with the little you have, to light a future, to bring the young mans dreams to reality.You help will be prayers, it will count to his future.
There he walks at a distance, feebling and hungry, with tattred clothes and grim face in sunken chuckles, his eyes portrays a messsage of hopelessness, betrayal and self denial. Betrayal from a society his father served, betrayal from apeople his father helped till his sunset days, betrayal from his teachers and colleague students. Betrayal from his teachers pinch him, hurts him and has left a vaccum of wound, despite his ability, academic potential, his teachets have shun him like plague, no one is willing to help, no one is willing to listen, but I offer the solace.
Ouch, he stumbles on a sharp object,blood is oozing from his right toe.”Hey boy, I will be of help, just relax”, I whisper into his ear. He wriths in pain, sitted by the trenches, looking mysteriously at the eyes of this stranger who is ready to help.
A siren so loud rents the air, downtown the road is cleared.I think fire has broken loose somewhere or maybe a life is in danger. The sound is now clear, I can see the governors motorcade, cruising through the busy market.The young boy looks, he can only afford to hold his chin by his two hands and sob, painful tears streaming through from his cheecks.”Ooh Dad, you went so soon, I miss you”, the boy broke into tears.
It touched me, it pained me, my eyes grew wet, my heart was a clout of pain, mixed feelings and dissapointment of our failed leadership, my county government and its entire management.The Governors fuel guzzlers stear through.
“Helo sir, will you mind assisting me with your aid kid to help this young boy”, I asked a relaxed matatu driver on his Nissan.” sure ,you can have it, what has happen to him? I can see some blood” he asked. “Well, he has been priked by a metal, you know the garbage collection system in the town is poor, everything flows and seeps into our roads” I explained. “Youll have to excuse me, let me help him out, a minute and I will return it back”. You know sometimes these drivers and conductors can be good and welcoming, but at times, only God knows.
I vividly recall my scouting skills, especially when it came to first aid. I quickly got to the boy, cleaned his wound and dressed him. In few minutes time he was up. But I could not leave him, he had a tale to tell, a sad story to narrate and pain so pricking to share. “You know, am very much greatfull, thanks stranger, your different from apeople of your ilk, they treat us like dogs”he said. I felt pain in his opening remark, the young man was so fluent, coherent and eloquent in his speech.He expressed himself openly and with much ease, but there was something to that, his speech was sandwitched with pain and suffrering.
“I dream about going back to school, I desire to clear my studies and be a doctor, atleast if I were back then, I would have saved my dad. He died a bitter-yet smilling man, his face was laways in pain, I saw it. I have my books and report hidden under some rock near where I sleep in town, beside that huge dumpsite (pointing at the town largest dumpsite). My dad told me my mother died when she was giving birth to me, may the good Lord rest her soul in peace....” he again broke into tears.His story thrilled me, it drew my attention at this point, I felt in his shoes, same condition, same environment, much pain.
“Our relatives came for dads burial, but when they were leaving, they ensured they left with everything, they threw me out of the house and locked the door. No one bothered nor cared about me. I was the only child, the first and the last born. This was all fate had for me!”the young man narrated. All this time, he has been hardening his face, keeping it manly but I could see, pain and tears were overwhelming him.
“Stranger, can I take you where I live?” the boy asked me. “sure?”,i said to him. He hold tight my hands, curling to his frustrations.
My conversation with him revealed more, an insight into his life. He puts on rags, lives in a cave, eats from the bin! All these are not his liking, its nature, he is a victim of cirmcumstance, I believe its a situation he is in. Through you, light will shine his way. Read and share his story, a story of a determined young man.
Life can at times be shaking, sad and horrific. The young man asks for your help to finish his studies, to have a future once more to see light shine to his now dark academic life.
Wednesday 22 April 2015
Tuesday 21 April 2015
Bayern fires past Fc Porto to reach semi finals
MUNICHRobert Lewandowski scored twice on Tuesday as Bayern Munich powered into the Champions League semi-finals for the fourth year in succession with a 6-1 second-leg routing — 7-4 on aggregate — of ten-man Porto.
Needing to over turn a two-goal deficit after last Wednesday's shock 3-1 first-leg defeat at Porto, Bayern produced a devastating first-half display scoring five times to demoralize their opponents.
Lewandowski now has 22 goals in all competitions while Thomas Mueller, Jerome Boateng and Thiago Alcantara also grabbed first-half goals.
The game's tempo dropped after the break allowing Porto captain Jackson Martinez to score a consolation goal.
Porto finished with ten men when defender Ivan Marcano received a second yellow card just before Xabi Alonso crashed home a free-kick — their coach Julen Lopategui was also sent from the touchline.
The scoreline matches Porto's record away defeat in Europe when they lost 6-1 at AEK Athens in the defunct European Champion Clubs' Cup in 1978.
Having routed AS Roma 7-1 away in the group stages and mauled Shakhtar Donestk 7-0 in Munich in the last 16, Bayern produced more clinical finishing in the first-half.
TREBLE DREAM
The Germans kept alive the dream of repeating their 2013 treble of Champions League, Bundesliga and German Cup crowns by going into Friday's semi-finals draw.
They can pick up their first silverware of the season on Saturday if they beat Hertha Berlin at home to have the Bundesliga title confirmed for a third year running.
The victory was all the more impressive as it came without injured star wingers Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben, while Germany captain Bastian Schweinsteiger stayed on the bench.
Bayern attacked from the outset, enjoying 75 percent possession early on, and rarely allowed Porto into their half.
Lewandowski hit the woodwork with nine minutes gone and the opening goal came just five minutes later.
Spain defender Juan Bernat, a constant threat on Bayern's left wing, swung in a corner and Thiago, who scored their away goal at Porto, headed home at the near post.
The crucial second goal came from Bayern's centre-backs as Holger Badstuber, in for Dante in the only change from the side who lost at Porto, headed on a corner and Boateng powered the ball home on 21 minutes.
Lewandowski compounded Porto's misery as Philipp Lahm's cross from the right was flicked on by Mueller and the Polish striker was on hand to power home his header.
With Bayern scoring at will, Fabiano was wrong-footed when Mueller's strike on 36 minutes took a deflection as the hosts went 4-0 up.
Lewandowski added his second five minutes before the break to make it 5-0 with 50 minutes still to play.
Mueller passed off to the Polish striker, who took a couple of touches to create space, then drilled the ball low into the corner.
With the game effectively over as a contest, Martinez gave Porto some late hope when substitute Evandro's cross was headed home from close range on 73 minutes.
Marcano's foul on Thiago led to the free-kick which Alonso drilled home on 88 minutes to cap Bayern's rousing night although the exitement got to their coach Pep Guardiola as he ended the game with split trousers.
5 Key item you need to carry with you to a career fair
Upon joining a university or college, one of the things you notice is how you get exposed to a whole new world you barely knew existed. It is in college that you realize you future is very dependent on the decisions you make. You are presented with many opportunities – good and bad – it’s up to you to make best use of these opportunities.One of the opportunities are the many career fairs that are held by companies and your university. With the informal setting and familiar environment for the students, career fairs are known to have a relaxed air around them while still accomplishing the same goal of connecting students with potential employers.
Whilst a number of students manage to come from career fairs with a positive result, a lot end up with nothing to show at the end of the day save for a few crumpled flyers and a free t-shirt, if lucky. In as much as the success or failure of a student in a Career Fair depends on various pointers, a huge number of students ignore the preparation bit.
Here are five tips to make sure you walk into a career fair like a champion.
1. Background checks
Usually a couple of weeks before a career fair is held, a list of participating companies or organizations is handed out. This can be through the flyers or email. Take some time and see if you can research the companies and their products or services. If a certain speaker has been included on the list, check out their LinkedIn profiles and learn more about them. At the career fair, use this information to engage the company or the individual in a conversation.
2. An Updated CV
Never go to a career fair without your CV. If a CV is the launch pad for your career, then it should be almost a no-brainer to have it in hand when attending a career fair. But make sure it is always up to date and that you have many copies.
3. A Professional Outfit
You should always treat these fairs like a job interview. Dress up the job you would want to have. It’s this sense of professionalism that will appeal to the recruiters and hopefully impress them enough for you to land a position or an internship.
4. An Elevator Pitch
Anytime you attend a career fair, remember that you are trying to sell a brand. With the brand being yourself. Before attending, make sure you have rehearsed your polished elevator pitch. It should convey who you are and how you are passionate about your preferred industry.
5. Business Cards
A business card shows how you have taken the time to prepare your brand and sets you apart from the masses who don’t have one. A contact might not be able to remember all the faces and the names but they will sure remember you by your business card. Make sure you carry enough of them and that they are professional looking.
QS TopMBA: Jobs & Salary Trends Report
Ken
ya is churning over 3,000 Masters of Business Administration graduates every year, making the graduate degree one of the most popular courses in the country. Over 20 public and private universities are offering MBA degrees in the country, with more expected to join the fray.
Despite the soaring MBA numbers, the demand for qualified business managers has grown in tandem and employers are paying top dollar for MBA holders. But there is a caveat: Years of experience and the issuing institution determines how much you earn, according to QS TopMBA: Jobs & Salary Trends Report.
Graduates from some of the best MBA Schools in Africa like University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, Universities of Wits and Stellenbosch earn an average of $50,000 (Sh4.5M) per year while MBA holders in Asia earn an average of $85,000.
According to the report, demand for MBAs in the technology sectors has undergone an era of unprecedented growth, especially in Asia. The globalization of skills is seen in the report as demand for MBAs in North America and Western Europe has flattened in the last three-four years, reflecting the economic growth in these regions.
“The real story is the continued astounding appetite of Asian employers for the MBA qualification. Asian employers reported another bumper year, with 20 percent growth in MBA demand in 2013. Employers, particularly in India and China, are embracing the qualification, especially in consulting and professional services, manufacturing, IT/computer services, finance and micro-finance,” states the report.
Whilst Kenya was not featured in the survey, a Nairobi-based HR consultant says an MBA may not necessarily give a candidate an edge when applying for a job.
“Kenyan employers are looking for specialized skills gained from working experience. The right papers are just an entry point,” says Perminus Wainana.
A hiring & Trend report released a month ago by Corporate Staffing Services showed that 61.6 percent of the employers assess the area of specialization of the candidates. Leadership experience comes a close second followed by a candidate’s affordability.[ad name="HTML-1"]
ya is churning over 3,000 Masters of Business Administration graduates every year, making the graduate degree one of the most popular courses in the country. Over 20 public and private universities are offering MBA degrees in the country, with more expected to join the fray.Despite the soaring MBA numbers, the demand for qualified business managers has grown in tandem and employers are paying top dollar for MBA holders. But there is a caveat: Years of experience and the issuing institution determines how much you earn, according to QS TopMBA: Jobs & Salary Trends Report.
Graduates from some of the best MBA Schools in Africa like University of Cape Town Graduate School of Business, Universities of Wits and Stellenbosch earn an average of $50,000 (Sh4.5M) per year while MBA holders in Asia earn an average of $85,000.
According to the report, demand for MBAs in the technology sectors has undergone an era of unprecedented growth, especially in Asia. The globalization of skills is seen in the report as demand for MBAs in North America and Western Europe has flattened in the last three-four years, reflecting the economic growth in these regions.
“The real story is the continued astounding appetite of Asian employers for the MBA qualification. Asian employers reported another bumper year, with 20 percent growth in MBA demand in 2013. Employers, particularly in India and China, are embracing the qualification, especially in consulting and professional services, manufacturing, IT/computer services, finance and micro-finance,” states the report.
Whilst Kenya was not featured in the survey, a Nairobi-based HR consultant says an MBA may not necessarily give a candidate an edge when applying for a job.
“Kenyan employers are looking for specialized skills gained from working experience. The right papers are just an entry point,” says Perminus Wainana.
A hiring & Trend report released a month ago by Corporate Staffing Services showed that 61.6 percent of the employers assess the area of specialization of the candidates. Leadership experience comes a close second followed by a candidate’s affordability.[ad name="HTML-1"]
Memorial Speech by RAILA ODINGA during Devolution Conference in Kisumu
Appreciating and strengthening Devolved Governance; Working together to Realize the Objectives of Devolution.
Your Excellency the President;
Council of Governors;
One of the amazing achievements of democracy is how its fruits trickle down to supporters and opponents alike.
Those who voted for or against the constitution have equal chance to benefit from its fruits. It is the story of Devolution in Kenya.
We may debate how the counties are being governed. But there can be no doubt that voters want their counties to be supported and strengthened, not wound up or undermined.
Devolution has many challenges. Corruption cartels have commandeered many county governments. Unrepentant believers in the old order are fighting devolved units in the false hope that they can reverse the clock.
Some elected leaders have confused their oversight role with execution, pitting county assemblies against county executives.
Some of the County governments are too tiny to benefit from economies of scale. Nearly all county governments are serving populations grounded in decades of poverty. Many sectors with direct impact on citizens have not been fully devolved. Although Health is devolved, it has serious challenges with regard to funding and personnel.
Agriculture and infrastructure are not fully devolved, but people expect the County governments to deliver on them. In these partially devolved areas, County and National Government Development plans are creating conflicting priorities, confusion and unclear visions.
Some counties are bogged down by tribal and clan tension.
Nearly all county governments are sagging under the weight of expectations. Voters expected that services that had stalled for fifty years in infrastructure, healthcare, tourism, agriculture and employment would take off immediately under county governments.
By and large however, Devolution is changing our country in ways few imagined. There have been loud concerns about corruption. The activities of some members of the County Assemblies and County Executives have been seen as pushing greed and impunity to new levels, sparking off protests.
But there is a positive side to the protests. They indicate that the people are taking control of their destiny. In the days of the old order, nobody questioned the PC, the DC or the DO. Too few knew what had been allocated for their development. Development was what the DC or PC said. Devolution has come with a new boss; the people. Development is what the people say it should be.
The National Government has handed over more powers to politicians and institutions elsewhere in Migori, Muranga, Mombasa, Turkana, Kericho, Bomet and elsewhere. What we do with those powers are absolutely up to us.
Results are trickling everywhere.
In Turkana, they have cut distance to the hospital from 55 kilometres to 35 kilometres in two years. Turkana increased education bursaries from Kshs 150 million to Kshs 300 million in the current financial year. At no one time in the last 50 years did the Government of Kenya allocate such amount of money to the education of Turkana children.
Rural Health Services that long suffered inadequate financing; dilapidated physical facilities; unreliable supply of drugs; absence of adequate medical equipment; and shortage of qualified medical staff have changed.
Nearly every village has access ambulance services from their county government.
In Kisii, each of the nine sub county hospitals has a state-of-the-art ambulance operated by qualified paramedics. This has boosted referral of critical cases by over 340 per cent. Referral of pregnant mothers has increased by 300 per cent. This story is replicated allover the country.Kisii Town is now a 24 hour town after the County Government installed 300 solar lights.
In Arid Marsabit County where water is life literally, the County Government has drilled 26 boreholes in the last two years against less than 15 boreholes drilled by national Government in the last 50 years. A slaughter house is coming up for the first time since independence.
Mombasa County’s School Milk Program has seen over 27,000 children from all the public Nursery and lower primary from class1-3 get school milk 5 days a week. The focus here is to improve nutrition which if not addressed in childhood leads to stunting and low prospects in later life. It is also meant to enhance the transition rate from home to ECD and from ECD to primary school.
The planned water desalination plant by county government will solve a long standing problem that should have been addressed decades ago.
The Muranga Integrated Development Day, incorporating the Muranga Investments Cooperative and Muranga Child Can are pace setters.
Despite the problems the leadership is going through, the amount of talent and capacity the county has put together indicate something worth looking forward to.
We are witnessing regional growth and enterprise outside of Nairobi and the traditional “high potential” areas. Yes, people are still heading to Nairobi for jobs. But millions are instead heading to the county governments.
Kenya’s economy has withstood the shocks coming from insecurity partly because of the investments going on in counties and the promise of these counties. For the first time in our history, we are looking at the possibility of an economy firing on all cylinders.
The point that was missed by the political elite for too long; that we need to rebalance our economy away from its overreliance on the National Government is slowly beginning to sink.
We are beginning to realize that we have other strengths too in other places and that there is actually no low potential part of Kenya.
Despite problems, Devolution has put Kenya on right course, in line with trends in the world; strong economies, built on semi-autonomous and interdependent regions. It is the story of Germany, the US, India, UK.It is a story all Kenyans have bought. If you doubt, just try abolishing a county.[ad name="HTML-2"]
Your Excellency the President;
Council of Governors;
One of the amazing achievements of democracy is how its fruits trickle down to supporters and opponents alike.
Those who voted for or against the constitution have equal chance to benefit from its fruits. It is the story of Devolution in Kenya.
We may debate how the counties are being governed. But there can be no doubt that voters want their counties to be supported and strengthened, not wound up or undermined.
Devolution has many challenges. Corruption cartels have commandeered many county governments. Unrepentant believers in the old order are fighting devolved units in the false hope that they can reverse the clock.
Some elected leaders have confused their oversight role with execution, pitting county assemblies against county executives.
Some of the County governments are too tiny to benefit from economies of scale. Nearly all county governments are serving populations grounded in decades of poverty. Many sectors with direct impact on citizens have not been fully devolved. Although Health is devolved, it has serious challenges with regard to funding and personnel.
Agriculture and infrastructure are not fully devolved, but people expect the County governments to deliver on them. In these partially devolved areas, County and National Government Development plans are creating conflicting priorities, confusion and unclear visions.
Some counties are bogged down by tribal and clan tension.
Nearly all county governments are sagging under the weight of expectations. Voters expected that services that had stalled for fifty years in infrastructure, healthcare, tourism, agriculture and employment would take off immediately under county governments.
By and large however, Devolution is changing our country in ways few imagined. There have been loud concerns about corruption. The activities of some members of the County Assemblies and County Executives have been seen as pushing greed and impunity to new levels, sparking off protests.
But there is a positive side to the protests. They indicate that the people are taking control of their destiny. In the days of the old order, nobody questioned the PC, the DC or the DO. Too few knew what had been allocated for their development. Development was what the DC or PC said. Devolution has come with a new boss; the people. Development is what the people say it should be.
The National Government has handed over more powers to politicians and institutions elsewhere in Migori, Muranga, Mombasa, Turkana, Kericho, Bomet and elsewhere. What we do with those powers are absolutely up to us.
Results are trickling everywhere.
In Turkana, they have cut distance to the hospital from 55 kilometres to 35 kilometres in two years. Turkana increased education bursaries from Kshs 150 million to Kshs 300 million in the current financial year. At no one time in the last 50 years did the Government of Kenya allocate such amount of money to the education of Turkana children.
Rural Health Services that long suffered inadequate financing; dilapidated physical facilities; unreliable supply of drugs; absence of adequate medical equipment; and shortage of qualified medical staff have changed.
Nearly every village has access ambulance services from their county government.
In Kisii, each of the nine sub county hospitals has a state-of-the-art ambulance operated by qualified paramedics. This has boosted referral of critical cases by over 340 per cent. Referral of pregnant mothers has increased by 300 per cent. This story is replicated allover the country.Kisii Town is now a 24 hour town after the County Government installed 300 solar lights.
In Arid Marsabit County where water is life literally, the County Government has drilled 26 boreholes in the last two years against less than 15 boreholes drilled by national Government in the last 50 years. A slaughter house is coming up for the first time since independence.
Mombasa County’s School Milk Program has seen over 27,000 children from all the public Nursery and lower primary from class1-3 get school milk 5 days a week. The focus here is to improve nutrition which if not addressed in childhood leads to stunting and low prospects in later life. It is also meant to enhance the transition rate from home to ECD and from ECD to primary school.
The planned water desalination plant by county government will solve a long standing problem that should have been addressed decades ago.
The Muranga Integrated Development Day, incorporating the Muranga Investments Cooperative and Muranga Child Can are pace setters.
Despite the problems the leadership is going through, the amount of talent and capacity the county has put together indicate something worth looking forward to.
We are witnessing regional growth and enterprise outside of Nairobi and the traditional “high potential” areas. Yes, people are still heading to Nairobi for jobs. But millions are instead heading to the county governments.
Kenya’s economy has withstood the shocks coming from insecurity partly because of the investments going on in counties and the promise of these counties. For the first time in our history, we are looking at the possibility of an economy firing on all cylinders.
The point that was missed by the political elite for too long; that we need to rebalance our economy away from its overreliance on the National Government is slowly beginning to sink.
We are beginning to realize that we have other strengths too in other places and that there is actually no low potential part of Kenya.
Despite problems, Devolution has put Kenya on right course, in line with trends in the world; strong economies, built on semi-autonomous and interdependent regions. It is the story of Germany, the US, India, UK.It is a story all Kenyans have bought. If you doubt, just try abolishing a county.[ad name="HTML-2"]
Monday 20 April 2015
Breaking: Key Terror suspect Arrested Monday Night
A key Al-Sh
abaab operative has tonight been arrested in Somalia while scouring one of the popular malls in Nairobi’s Kayole estate for a possible attack.
According to sources privy to the operation, Dadacha Yusuf Abdullahi was arrested while sitting inside the Nakumatt Shujaa Mall as he surveyed the building for a possible attack. Dadacha did not know that key security officers followed him from Mandera to Nairobi where he arrived late last week.
Sleuths have been on his tail without his knowledge. He was picked from the crowded mall by the anti-terrorism police officers who have been conducting the investigations.
His arrest brought relief in the security circles as he was believed to be planning an attack at one of the key malls in Eastlands. Security officers breathed a sigh of relief after his arrest and openly celebrated.
Dadacha is believed to be one of the Manyani trained Kenyans who joined the Al-Shabaab after failing to join the Somalia government security as earlier intended. According to investigators, Dadacha was born in Moyale where he also went to school.
credit: Kahawa Tungu
abaab operative has tonight been arrested in Somalia while scouring one of the popular malls in Nairobi’s Kayole estate for a possible attack.According to sources privy to the operation, Dadacha Yusuf Abdullahi was arrested while sitting inside the Nakumatt Shujaa Mall as he surveyed the building for a possible attack. Dadacha did not know that key security officers followed him from Mandera to Nairobi where he arrived late last week.
Sleuths have been on his tail without his knowledge. He was picked from the crowded mall by the anti-terrorism police officers who have been conducting the investigations.
His arrest brought relief in the security circles as he was believed to be planning an attack at one of the key malls in Eastlands. Security officers breathed a sigh of relief after his arrest and openly celebrated.
Dadacha is believed to be one of the Manyani trained Kenyans who joined the Al-Shabaab after failing to join the Somalia government security as earlier intended. According to investigators, Dadacha was born in Moyale where he also went to school.
credit: Kahawa Tungu
New SONU : BABU OWINO's partying shot
Babu Owino - Chairperson,Bachelor of Law, second year: “How do you rig 30,000 votes? Comrades love us and anyone or anything that stands in their way will be dealt with accordingly.”
Eric Janganya - Secretary General Bachelor of Economics and Statistics:“I am a known fighter for student rights. I will neither be bought nor manipulated. I will always put the interests of students first and fight for their rights.”
Milka Obonyo - Gender Affairs Secretary, Bachelor of Agriculture Economics: “I will ensure men are represented, since it is not always about the ladies.”
Kate Kokumu- Finance Secretary, Bachelor of Economics and Statistics:“My focus will be on devolving Sonu funds at campus levels to enhance the organisation’s activities.”
Angel Mbuthia- Academic Affairs Secretary, Bachelor of Arts - Economics, Sociology and Political Science: “I’ll add value to our core business and increase opportunities like internships and bursaries.”
Harold Mugozi- Accommodation and Catering Secretary, Bachelor of Economics:“Hostels have to be the major project. Wi-Fi will be available at all times everywhere.”
Scarlet Muhadia - Health an Environment Secretary, Bachelor of Science, Dental Surgery: “Basic utilities like water and dispensers will be available in halls of residence.
Patrobas McOgweno - Sports and Entertainment Secretary, Bachelor of Economics:“The first market for student talent should be and will be the comrades.”
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