Censorship in the world's largest democracy - Opinion - Al Jazeera English
a must read article on the reality of Internet censorship globally. This is fact ridden and a must to read to understand what is really going on.
San Francisco, California - In the world's largest democracy, something is brewing that could have grave implications for freedom of expression. On January 12, in response to a private lawsuit, a Delhi High Court judge, Justice Suresh Kait, told lawyers for the Indian offices of Facebook and Google that, unless they develop the capability to regulate "offensive and objectionable" material on their sites, the Indian government would block their websites, "like China [does]".
The complaint, filed by Vinay Rai, a magazine editor, was filed under laws banning the sale of obscene books and objects, as well as one pertaining to criminal conspiracy. It demands that the companies - as well as companies providing similar services, such as Yahoo - screen content before it appears on their sites.
In a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, Rai explained that the evidence he submitted to the court included content offensive to Hindus, Muslims and Christians. "My intention is to ensure that the sentiments of any religion or community are not hurt," he told the Journal.
Saturday, January 21, 2012
Friday, January 20, 2012
Consequence Management Response Force CCMRFs now training on US soil! ...
The government says the training is for "self defense" to dangerous situation on American soil. For civil unrest, natural disasters.
Trained for: 3rd brigade in Iraq (I was inbedded with them, as a photojournalist). They are called CCMRF, they are a "well trained" and trusted brigade.
Ron Paul on FEMA Extermination Camps in the U.S.
"Yeah, there setting the stage for violence in this country, that's for sure" Ron Paul
Thursday, January 19, 2012
click here to sign against SOPA PIPP
Today After The War joins with other sites in a virtual strike to protest two proposed laws in the United States, called SOPA and the PROTECT IP Act. On January 24th, the U.S. Senate will vote on the PROTECT IP Act to censor the Internet, despite opposition from the vast majority of Americans.
Join us to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity.
http://americancensorship.org/
Join us to protect our rights to free speech, privacy, and prosperity.
http://americancensorship.org/
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Monday, January 16, 2012
Sunday, January 15, 2012
#JAN1: Occupy Wall Street finds no right to generally assemble
This is all about our civil rights being challenged. Are we really a police state now?
Re-Occupy Wall Street: Protesters back in Zuccotti Park
With the news covering the elections 24/7; I thought that it would be a good idea to talk about other things that are going on in the background.
Wednesday, January 04, 2012
Monday, January 02, 2012
American soldiers describe how they can kill civilians
Permission to kill. Planting weapons on the victims bodies to receive approval in the killings.
iraq war: us soldier tells his story and hands back his awards.
A blurb in the middle of the homeless and Working Poor stream. As a recent war photojournalist, I felt that this video was important for me to insert onto my blog. His description of the house raids, reminds me of the experiences with the Israeli's and their night time house raids in Palestine. I wonder did we teach the Israeli's this tactic, or did they teach us?
Did You Know the U.S. Middle Class is Disappearing. These stats prove it.
The stats are a little outdated and today the numbers are higher as stated in my article, The Working Poor. However, the story is still the same and this is a good video with short clips to get the reality across to what is really going on in America.
Living in the tunnels of New York City
Some may call this man living in the New York city tunnels homeless, but is he?
How to have a home with no house payments and no utility bills!
In these economic times, you may find yourself in a bit of a squeeze for places to live. This video will provide you an option for a different type of living! If you must sell your home, or it is foreclosed, and you know that you have to move with a very limited or no income..but you will need some investment money. This video tells you how to live on "your land" without payments. By this video you will need about 3-4 thousand to start with. Enjoy!
How to survive homelessness with style!
How to build a Gertee for living in using recycled materials. Homeless people can go to the library to get more information on building a gertee...but you will need the space to build it without someone tearing it down before you are finished and once you move in.
How to eat when your homeless, with Papadoc, your homeless Martha Stewart
A homeless tells us how to make a meal in your car while you are homeless. You will need a few things, freeze dried food, a thermos and some hot water from a 7 to 11! I wonder if the companies he advertises would want to pay him for his advertising. What a twist in advertising.
Friday, December 30, 2011
Thursday, December 29, 2011
The Working Poor and Livable Wage
Susan Brannon
28 December 2011
The required Federal Minimum wage keeps the average American family of four living in poverty. According to the Working Poor Families Project study, as of in December 2010 Nearly one in every three American families is classified as the working poor, that is 45 million people including 22 million children. These are the people who can barely make it from month to month, they are two income providers and blue collar workers. The wages and hours are decreasing and the monthly bills keep going up.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines the working poor as " people who has spent 27 weeks in the past year either working or looking for work whose income is below the poverty level. "
The Bureau of Labor Statistics defines the working poor as " people who has spent 27 weeks in the past year either working or looking for work whose income is below the poverty level. "
When the minimum wage was first introduced nationally in 1938,it was considered "a livable wage" for an American family of four. but the reality compared to the inflation rate is that the sustainable "value" has been going down.The problem is that the required minimum wage amount is not high enough compared to the real monetary value has kept the American people living below the poverty level since 1938.
One would think that the set minimum wage would be a number to keep people above water and enough to put food on the table, but this has not been the case. For example, in 1968 the minimum wage was $1.60 per hour but in real value compared to inflation it should have been $10.04 per hour to survive. From 1996 to 2006 the minimum wage remained at $4.25 per hour for 10 years without any adjustments. This was a time period of good economic times, yet inflation continued to rise and family's were quickly discovering that they needed two jobs per household in order to maintain their standard of living.
The current minimum wage is $7.25 per hour but in real value terms, it should be $10.39 per hour in order to obtain a livable wage. If inflation does not rise sharply in 2012, $10.39 per hour with a 40 hour work week, should be enough to pay the rent, food, gas and utilities, but not much more. Of course this also depends on the cost of living in your city and state.
The situation gets a bit more complicated considering our current economical problems. Simply comparing the real value vs minimum wage is not enough to get the real picture on the situation with the working poor in America. Corporations and small businesses are feeling the pinch of the faltering economy and in order to reduce their costs, they increase the amount of workers and reduce the work hours for each worker. This process reduces the business cost of providing benefits to the workers. They must maintain a profit in order to remain in business. The result is that the average blue collar worker has found themselves working 20 hours a week without benefits and must another job to make the difference. Many working poor families are now holding four part-time jobs to make their monthly payments. According to the Working Poor Families Project:
One would think that the set minimum wage would be a number to keep people above water and enough to put food on the table, but this has not been the case. For example, in 1968 the minimum wage was $1.60 per hour but in real value compared to inflation it should have been $10.04 per hour to survive. From 1996 to 2006 the minimum wage remained at $4.25 per hour for 10 years without any adjustments. This was a time period of good economic times, yet inflation continued to rise and family's were quickly discovering that they needed two jobs per household in order to maintain their standard of living.
The current minimum wage is $7.25 per hour but in real value terms, it should be $10.39 per hour in order to obtain a livable wage. If inflation does not rise sharply in 2012, $10.39 per hour with a 40 hour work week, should be enough to pay the rent, food, gas and utilities, but not much more. Of course this also depends on the cost of living in your city and state.
The situation gets a bit more complicated considering our current economical problems. Simply comparing the real value vs minimum wage is not enough to get the real picture on the situation with the working poor in America. Corporations and small businesses are feeling the pinch of the faltering economy and in order to reduce their costs, they increase the amount of workers and reduce the work hours for each worker. This process reduces the business cost of providing benefits to the workers. They must maintain a profit in order to remain in business. The result is that the average blue collar worker has found themselves working 20 hours a week without benefits and must another job to make the difference. Many working poor families are now holding four part-time jobs to make their monthly payments. According to the Working Poor Families Project:
- More than half of the U.S. labor force (55 percent) has “suffered a spell of unemployment, a cut in pay, a reduction in hours or have become involuntary part-time workers” since the recession began in December 2007.
- Income inequality continued to grow with the richest 20 percent of working families taking home 47 percent of all income and earning 10 times that of low-income working families.
In most states part-time employees generally have limited or no company benefits, such as health benefits, vacation and sick time, paid holidays, and unemployment compensation. Part time employees are not protected under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) in turn, more and more workers are surviving without medical insurance, paid holidays and sick leave.
I thought I would include here some more statistics that show what the working poor are now facing:
I thought I would include here some more statistics that show what the working poor are now facing:
- As 2007 began, only 26 million Americans were on food stamps, but now 42 million Americans are on food stamps and that number keeps rising every single month. (Wall Street Journal)
- Since 2001, over 42,000 U.S. factories have closed down for good. (The American Dream)
- In 2009, total wages, median wages, and average wages all declined in the United States. (Tax.com)
- Half of all American workers now earn $505 or less per week. (Tax.com)
- In 1976, the top 1 percent of earners in the United States took in 8.9 percent of all income. By 2007, that number had risen to 23.5 percent. (New York Times)
- Since the year 2000, we have lost 10% of our middle class jobs. In the year 2000 there were about 72 million middle class jobs in the United States but today there are only about 65 million middle class jobs. Meanwhile, our population is getting larger. (Zerohege)
If you are a member of the working poor, I wish that I had better news for you but as it looks things are not going to get any better and millions of Americans will be joining you soon.
Thursday, December 01, 2011
Child Abuse: The Silent Epidemic in America
Susan Brannon
28 November 2011
It came to my attention that there are over 3 million reports of child abuse each year in the United States. In 2009 approximately 3.3 million child abuse reports were made involving 6 million children. This is because when the government reports child abuse cases, it is the number of cases, not the number of children, nor how many of them at one time. These numbers make America the worst in developing countries for child abuse. The highest amount of reports came from the state of Texas.
The BBC compares countries by annual deaths per 100,000
- Germany: 0.8UK: 0.9
Japan: 1
France: 1.4
America: 2.4 America is almost double of France; more than double for the other reported countries
According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services; Division for Children and Families: A victim is defined as a "child for whom the State determined at least one maltreatment was found to be substantiated or indicated; and a disposition of substantiated, indicated, or alternative response victim was assigned." Does the term substantiated or indicated mean that if there are reports, and there are no signs of physical abuse, is it not counted?
We now know the official numbers but the real questions is; "Why is child abuse so high in America?" It is difficult to find the answers, because there are so many factors that could be involved. The question of violence in movies and television, stress, tension in a working world, poor role models...the list could go on, and on. Considering the facts listed below; child abuse occurs no matter what the race, income, religion, or region. This means that we cannot include poverty, blacks, whites, Asian, Christians, Mormons or po- dunk town rural America. The findings mean anyone can be involved, your neighbor, your boss, your pastor, or your best friend and considering the numbers it is most likely that on your average day, you will have spoken or sat next to someone that is/was either an abuser or a victim. This is a sad and unspoken reality in America, the land of the free where dream can come true.
Dept. of Human Services reports:
- "Eighty-seven percent of unique victims were comprised of three races or ethnicities—African-American (22.3%),
---Hispanic (20.7%),
---White (44.0%). - However, victims of African-American, American Indian or Alaska Native, and multiple racial descent had the highest rates of victimization at 15.1, 11.6, and 12.4 victims, respectively, per 1,000 children in the population of the same race or ethnicity."
- The re-occurrence rate is 94.6% according to the Child and Family Services Reviews.
It seems to me that in order to gather the percentage rate for re-occurrence, then those who gather the reports, know of the crimes, the abusers and the victims; since the re-occurrence rate is so high, then why are the children still with or in contact with their abusers? Why is the child put back into the position of repeated abuse? *Remember, the numbers reflect the cases that are "reported" and there are many more that are not reported.
- Unfortunately, the youngest children are the most vulnerable, 80.8% of the children are either killed or abused during the first three years of their life. I need to write that again, to make sure these facts sink into our minds of denial. The first three years of life. During the most important time in a child's' life where they learn to trust and understand how the world works. UNICEF reports, "These early childhood years are when experiences and interactions with parents, family members and other adults influence the way a child’s brain develops, with as much impact as such factors as adequate nutrition, good health and clean water. And how the child develops during this period sets the stage for later success in school and the character of adolescence and adulthood." and continues, "But the brain’s malleability during these early years also means that when children do not get the care they need, or if they experience starvation, abuse or neglect, their brain development may be compromised" This includes all the key ingredients, All the key ingredients of emotional intelligence — confidence, curiosity, intentionality, self-control, relatedness, capacity to communicate and cooperativeness —
- More than 90% of child sexual abuse victims know their perpetrator in some way. In 2009, those of those abused, 37% was by their mother and 18.6 % by the father. The lowest amount was zero, for a foster parent male relative.
The bottom line? I believe that in light of the current research the mothers need stronger social support that is combined with increased maternal education including listing where the mothers can go for help in their area. Unfortunately, we are in an economic downturn with government cut-backs at every turn. Funding for home based social support is about diminished to help these mothers who are distraught.
To lower the numbers of abuse cases in the United States, is important to promote and advocate as soon as the child is born and hospitals are the best places to distribute educational and local resources to all new mothers. They should be distributed to all new mothers no matter the age, race or income. If someone would know of where they can go for help, then just maybe a child could be saved.
I have noticed in my research on topics such as this, that finding the resources is quite difficult and a person would need to be able to think logically with a clear and concise mind in order to find services in their areas. One website leads to another, many of the phone numbers are wrong, they do not answer their phones or the services are in a different state. In addition, the mother would have to be Internet savvy and have internet access, while at the same time, deal with the stressors of being a new mother.
Here are Some Quick Facts:
- In 2010 there were more than 5 deaths each day due to abuse and neglect. This means that a report of child abuse is made every 10 seconds
- Approximately 80% of children that die from abuse are under the age of 4.
- It is estimated that between 50-60% of child fatalities are due to maltreatment are not recorded on death certificates.
- Child abuse occurs at every socioeconomic level, ethnic, cultural, religious and educational background.
- 30% of abused and neglected children will later abuse their own children.
- About 80% of 21 year olds that were abused as children met criteria for at least one psychological disorder.
- The annual cost of child abuse and neglect for 2007 was 104 Billion dollars.
- 25% of those abused are more likely to experience teen pregnancy.
10.8% physical abuse
7.6% Psychological maltreatment
7.6% Sexual Abuse
Resources:
Child Help
Department for Health and Human Services and Child welfare
BBC
PubMed
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Minimum Wage in Real Value 1938-2010
Susan Brannon
26 November 2011
Did you know that the U.S. minimum wage in real dollars had been going down in relation to inflation? This is one reason why it now takes two or three jobs per household to keep above water. In 1938 the the minimum wage was $0.25 / per hour to 2010 of $7.25. If we adjust the wages to 2010 dollars this shows the real value of minimum wage. In 1968, the minimum wage in real dollars was equal to $10.04 per/hour. That is quite a drop from todays wages.
Even if you take the states that ventured away from the Federal minimum wage amounts, with the highest being in Washington for January 1, 2012 to $9.04 per/hour, that is still a drop from 1968. No wonder the 60's were remembered as the good times.
If that is not enough for reality, if we take the Real Annual Wage since 1938 and compare that to the real poverty level for a family of four, not once has the required Federal minimum wage levels kept any family above the poverty line. Minimum wage varied from a maximum of 90% of the poverty level in 1968, and has averaged two thirds of the poverty level since 1959, when the poverty level was established. In 2006 the minimum wage level was raised for the first time in ten years without any adjustment.
The reality is that as the real value of minimum wage has declined, so has the percent of workers that it covered. Now over 130 cities survive on "living wages".
A living wage is the minimum hourly income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs during a 40 hour work week. This includes shelter, clothing, food etc. Some cities has passed a living wage ordinance such as San Francisco, California, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico. This usually totals to be around $3 to $7 dollars above minimum wage.
*http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/anth484/minwage.html
26 November 2011
Did you know that the U.S. minimum wage in real dollars had been going down in relation to inflation? This is one reason why it now takes two or three jobs per household to keep above water. In 1938 the the minimum wage was $0.25 / per hour to 2010 of $7.25. If we adjust the wages to 2010 dollars this shows the real value of minimum wage. In 1968, the minimum wage in real dollars was equal to $10.04 per/hour. That is quite a drop from todays wages.
 | |
| Real Value Minimum Wage Red Squares - Nominal Value Blue Dots . Graph by OSU 2010 |
If that is not enough for reality, if we take the Real Annual Wage since 1938 and compare that to the real poverty level for a family of four, not once has the required Federal minimum wage levels kept any family above the poverty line. Minimum wage varied from a maximum of 90% of the poverty level in 1968, and has averaged two thirds of the poverty level since 1959, when the poverty level was established. In 2006 the minimum wage level was raised for the first time in ten years without any adjustment.
 |
| Real Annual Income Wage /Poverty Line; Graph OSU |
A living wage is the minimum hourly income necessary for a worker to meet their basic needs during a 40 hour work week. This includes shelter, clothing, food etc. Some cities has passed a living wage ordinance such as San Francisco, California, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico. This usually totals to be around $3 to $7 dollars above minimum wage.
*http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/anth484/minwage.html
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Video: Fireworks over Cairo as thousands occupy Tahrir
America, we have not learned a thing...boy are these guys determined
Corruption from Yemen, money laundering
This should be on the crossing borders project website! This is a voice.
The Secret War on Terror Videos You Won't See On the News- Yemen 02 Nov ...
I don't know if anyone has noticed, but our news has been focused on Black Friday, while the revolutions in the Middle East, Europe, and America continue. For some reason, the news decided to become very quiet about the updates....Can you think of their reasoning?
Friday, November 25, 2011
Thursday, November 17, 2011
Syria's 'bloodiest day' leaves scores dead
Syria's violence has increased, and has not stopped. Russia is providing the Syrian government (Assad) weapons. It is those that sell the weapons for violating human rights, are also the countries that support the violence, deaths, in spite of the international laws. These weapons are used for war crimes, and a large profit is made for the countries that supply the weapons. I call this blood money.
مسائية قرية الجرذي. 16/11/2011
Don't forget Syria. Does this look familiar? It is the same as occupy, at least in this video, but in a different language. They have not given up. The Syrian revolt has been ongoing for 8 months and the pressure is now on Assad, from the Arab League.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Thursday, November 03, 2011
#occupy bundestag 29.10.2011 berlin - schnellwaschgang
According to Occupy Together.org there are 2, 283 cities worldwide marching against the 1%.
Berlin is one of those cities. The voices of the people are speaking.
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
A Pal/Israeli Peace Project!
This is a great video from the "Hand in Hand" Palestinian/Israeli Children's Peace Project.
Step by Step, we move along, through understanding and knowledge of "the other"
What is Happening To Us? Chinese toddler crushed by traffic.flv
I posted this to help generate Global Awareness to this tragedy.
You will see people passing by the child laying in the middle of the street, going around the child and shop keepers continuing their work.
Is our society so bad that so many people cannot stop for a second to offer assistance to someone in need?
This little girl is now in critical condition, and will most likely be brain dead.
I pray for a complete recovery.
Shucking Corn--Clean Ears Everytime
In light of all the realities on this website, I thought I would share this video!
Friday, October 21, 2011
Occupy Central ( Hong Kong) - The First Two Hours 佔領中環的首二小時
Occupy Hong Kong
15 October 2011
500 protesters gathered outside the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on the 15th and about 40 demonstrators slept overnight in a foyer beneath the Asian headquarters of HSBC Holdings Plc.
Armed with tents, bullhorns and a gas-powered generator used to help them recharge their laptops, the protesters occupied the public thoroughfare under the building as about a dozen police stood by.
the territory has experienced growing inequality, insecurity and poverty in recent decades, affecting the educated middle class as well and threatening the ‘Hong Kong Dream’ of increasing prosperity. The UN Development Programme, Hong Kong has the greatest income inequality of any country in the world.
There is a serious lack of affordable housing, with many households spending more than half their disposable income on rent or mortgage payments. People are also being crammed by landlords into unsuitable empty industrial buildings with hardly any living space and poor facilities.spanish revolution- the people united will never be defeated
Puerta del sol, kilometro cero. Como en un acto de justicia poética... en el kilometro cero de España comienza la historia... La victoria, si la victoria, compañeros tiene nombre de mujer...será por eso que hay que buscarla, saber donde esta, ir en su búsqueda... qué movimiento más interesante... donde termina esto? eso es lo bonito de esto...cesar
Puerta del Sol 2011 Protests, Madrid #acampadasol M-20
Occupy Madrid 15-20th October 2011
Madrid started their protest on the 15th of October and continues. This video was taken a few minutes before midnight, when the protests were to be declared illegal by the Spanish government.
Thousands of people still occupy Madrid's main square, Puerta del Sol, after several days of protest about the government's poor political engagement with the electorate.
It is being referred to as the beginning of a movement in a country that has a youth unemployment rate of up to 45%.
Spain holds regional and municipal elections this Sunday, and campaigners want to be part of the political debate, saying their voices are not being heard.
The occupation of Madrid's Sol, and the centers of 50 other Spanish towns and cities.
5000+ people in front of european central bank EZB - 15.10.2011 #occupyf...
Occupy Frankfurt 15 October 2011
Occupy Frankfurt started with an estimated 200 protesters staking out tents and pickets around the giant Euro sign by the headquarters of the European Central Bank since the weekend. Their ranks swelled to an estimated 6,000. Critics can easily point to the ECB’s move to prop up ailing euro-zone lenders with liquidity and bond-buying operations as a sign that public money is being used to improve the lot of banks and bankers rather than regular citizens.
What are they upset about in Germany?
Consider a few statistics for youth unemployment, which at 9.7% for 2010 in Germany was among the lowest of more than 30 countries measured by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development.
In the U.S., the jobless rate for 15- to 24-year-olds during the same period was nearly twice as high at 18.4%, and reached 41.6% in Spain. What’s more, few young Germans are saddled by the kind of student loans and other debt often cited by US protesters as a source for their discontent.
German economic expectations fell to a three-year low in October on fears the euro-zone debt crisis is driving Europe’s largest economy into a recession.
Fight & Chaos: First video of 'Occupy Rome' rally turning violent
Occupy Rome Oct 15, 2011
It was one of the few violent outbursts as protests took to the streets in over 950 cities in 82 countries globally. As of 7 PM local time in London, police began cracking down on protesters in the UK capital.
Back in Rome, streets were largely deserted by 8 PM, after police used tear gas and violence against demonstrators after a handful of the Italian protesters, disgusted with the current economic situation facing the country, turned toward banks and local shops, destroying a number of shopfronts and wreaking havoc on the city.
Among the grievances facing Italians are high unemployment, political paralysis and 60 billion euros of austerity measures that have raised taxes and the cost of health care.
“We are struggling to find a way to survive,” added the young activist.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi said he would have none of the protests. He said in a statement that those responsible for Saturday’s violence would be punished, calling the rioting “a very worrying sign for civil society … They must be condemned by everyone without reservation.”
Seventy were injured due to the violence, forty of those where police. Some Italians feel that there were people paid to start the violence to make the protesters look bad and justify the attacks on the activists.
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Occupy Wall Street - Faces
Susan Brannon
12 October 2011
A photo series of different faces for the protests: New York
The Movement: Occupy Wall St.
Resources:
Occupy Together
Twitter: @occupywallst
Related Articles:
Making Sense of the Bank of America Mortgage Fraud
Making Sense of the Failing Economy and U.S. Downgrade
Debt Plan Fact Sheet
Our Tax Dollars at Work
Satellite View of Foreclosures
American Struggling Middle Class (Video)
Global Confidence in Economy Collapses
Crime Against Humanity
Examples of US Financial Corruption
Presidential Candidates Response to Occupy Wall Street
One Example of Wall Street Corruption
Occupy Wall Street - Proposed/Unproposed List of Demands
What is Wall Street?
12 October 2011
A photo series of different faces for the protests: New York
Resources:
Occupy Together
Twitter: @occupywallst
Related Articles:
Making Sense of the Bank of America Mortgage Fraud
Making Sense of the Failing Economy and U.S. Downgrade
Debt Plan Fact Sheet
Our Tax Dollars at Work
Satellite View of Foreclosures
American Struggling Middle Class (Video)
Global Confidence in Economy Collapses
Crime Against Humanity
Examples of US Financial Corruption
Presidential Candidates Response to Occupy Wall Street
One Example of Wall Street Corruption
Occupy Wall Street - Proposed/Unproposed List of Demands
What is Wall Street?
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