Amongst the wide array of jobs that most people would not think of as “ordinary” jobs is that of construction management. While it is at the end of the spectrum of “weird” jobs (construction jobs are increasingly widespread), construction management jobs are one career choice that many people would assume is not the type to become a lifelong career. The opposite is true. While construction jobs come and go, every company needs to have some type of management (who else can secure work jobs for the company?) and every manager needs to have a background knowledge of both construction and business techniques. Furthermore, the Construction Management Association of America divides the responsibilities of a construction manager into 7 categories:
• Project management planning
• Cost management
• Time management
• Quality management
• Contract administration
• Safety management; and
• CM professional practice (such as organization)
Only one question remains: where to find these type of positions?
Construction management seems to be a very limited profession, but in fact can transcend a wide array of careers only dimly related to the concept of a construction manager. Architects have similar experience in construction management; they almost need it in order to command a large number of employees to create a building in a certain way. While management is in charge of most of the responsibilities regarding the site, architects have similar responsibilities that are closely related to the job title of construction manager.
Additionally, aside from this type of unprecedented career choice, construction managers can often get placed immediately after earning a degree in the field. Construction management degrees have nearly come out of nowhere in recent years, although have become an important resource for students of construction. Nearly every student is placed within the growing industry, and it is forecast to continue to grow at an unprecedented rate within the next few years. How many times have you passed through your hometown to notice a new building popping up or construction on the highway? This is all due to an intricate construction management system that places certain employees on different jobs around the city, as well as predicts how soon the jobs will be completed. Without this type of organization, many construction projects would fail or take an exceedingly long time to complete.
Construction management is a much more complicated career than many people outside the industry think it to be. There are many opportunities within the construction industry to become either management or work outside the process as an architect or financer. However, earning your degree in construction management or simply taking construction courses through an accredited university can help place you in the construction position you want to be in. Due to the growth the industry has achieved in recent years, construction and construction management positions seem slated to become the most highly sought after careers in the country amidst the tales of unemployment.
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It is difficult to make a name for yourself in photography, there is no denying this, but making an innovative photography piece is even harder for many budding photographers. Thus, the troubled times in pursuing art make themselves known early on, as many aspiring artists struggle to find their niche in the art world. Photography is the newest form of art and yet has experienced similar hardships with a rising amount of potential photographers. The key is, to figuratively “break through the fourth wall”, in other words, commit to a realism that touches the viewer. While the term is meant to appeal more to performance art, such as theatre, it is still applicable to the world of photography which attempts to bring still images to life through lighting, setting, and background.
While careers in photography may seem few and far between, there are rising opportunities for many students of photography in many different fields. While you may not go far with aspirations of becoming the next Ansel Adams, if you satiate yourself with entry-level positions in galleries, this may amount to a new career option. The skill of photography is a skill that nearly every person thinks they have, but it is only through careful cultivation that true talent emerges. This cultivation is typically in the form of photography classes or art degrees. Photography focuses much more on what is beyond the image, rather than the image itself.
How many of us are well acquainted with the popular photographs through history, such as the soldier kissing the girl after returning from war (“The Kiss”) or the famine stricken child in Sudan only feet away from a vulture (by Kevin Carter)? These photographs literally transcended their still life image and allowed us to take a peek into the true nature of the photographs. The image from the Sudan is the most haunting of all, as we can see the ribs of the small child protruding in a UN camp while a vulture looks on; this photograph haunted Kevin Carter to his grave as he killed himself only a year later. While these images have found a name for themselves in the art world, this is not to say that only depictions of world events are of the caliber of great photography. Many great photographs around the world are seemingly amateur recollections of families or different customs in countries abroad.
While careers in photography still seem to be far away for the entering photography student, keep in mind that there are many valuable opportunities out there. Anywhere from working with a newspaper to a modeling agency qualify as work experience and can teach you many valuable lessons in the industry. Photography is more than just an image frozen in time, it is about the background and the meaning that goes into it; this meaning must literally break through the fourth wall to absorb the viewer and capture history in the making, regardless how monumental or small it may be.
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Whether you already enjoy a successful career as an entrepreneur or are just starting out, these talks offer plenty of information to enhance your role in your business. From identifying what makes an entrepreneur successful to tips for those starting out on their own to more in-depth topics on business, there is a wealth of information right here on YouTube.
The Makeup of Entrepreneurs
From traits of successful entrepreneurs to whether they are born or made to the importance of innovation, these videos describe the embodiment of entrepreneurs.
- Entrepreneurs can change the world. This inspirational video touches on traits of entrepreneurs and how they work to make the world a better place.
- Skills of Great Entrepreneurs. Randy Komisar talks about the skills essential for being a successful entrepreneur.
- The Art of Relationships. See what this business school student says about starting your own business based on her own experience with entrepreneurship.
- Lessons Learned from Failures. Randy Komisar supports this idea that failure is to be expected and is actually an important stepping stone to success.
- Entrepreneurship. Listen to what Debbie Ducic of GutZy Women has to say about what makes a successful entrepreneur.
- The Call of the Entrepreneur. Watch this trailer for a documentary to see some of what an entrepreneur is.
- The Most Important Lessons Learned as An Entrepreneur. Ryan Allis discusses what he has learned about becoming an entrepreneur.
- Silicon Valley and the culture of entrepreneurship. This panel discussion talks about the different business cultures around the world and how it changes the face of entrepreneurship.
- Entrepreneurship & Success: What does it take?. Hear from these entrepreneurs on what it takes to become a successful entrepreneur.
- What is Entrepreneurship?. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw gives a simple, yet effective, definition of what an entrepreneur is.
- Are entrepreneurs born or made?. Several entrepreneurs discuss whether entrepreneurs are born or made as well as some traits of these successful business people.
- Professor Bird on Entrepreneurship 1. Professor Bird from Kogod School of Business shares what she sees as common personality traits of entrepreneurs.
- Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Special Topics - Web 2.0. Douglas Engelbart, the creator of such technology as the mouse and windows in computers, discusses the importance of innovation in entrepreneurship.
Entrepreneurship and Education
Many entrepreneurs got their start with a business school education. See what these videos have to say about the connection between the two.
- What is Entrepreneurship?. This college professor defines entrepreneurship and discusses how the school where he teaches can help entrepreneurs through education.
- UFM.edu - Seven questions about entrepreneurship. Professor Andrew Zacharakis talks about entrepreneurship in general as well as some of the work done at Babson College in reference to teaching entrepreneurship.
- Eugene M. Lang Entrepreneurship Center: Critical to Launch. These entrepreneurs discuss the importance of networking at business school to getting their business started.
- Teaching Entrepreneurship. Examine the idea of teaching entrepreneurship by exploring this story about teenaged entrepreneurs.
- Entrepreneurship in the Classroom. See what Adjunct Professor Jack Kaplan has to say about teaching entrepreneurship.
- Will Price - Chief Executive Officer, Widgetbox. Price talks about being in business school as well as his experience as both an entrepreneur and leader in business.
- Kellogg: Entrepreneurship is in Your Future. Alumni of Kellogg discuss the benefits of an entrepreneurship program for future entrepreneurs.
- ARTS: Entrepreneurship and the Future of the Music Industry. Professor Ken Lopez says that future musicians will also need to be entrepreneurs and is an important area of study while in school.
Starting Out
Get great advice for when you are just starting out on your own.
- Advice to Entrepreneurs: Trust Your Instincts. David Avery talks about the importance of new entrepreneurs following their instincts.
- Making the perfect first impression. Listen to the stories this entrepreneur tells of how she worked to make a good impression despite being short of all the necessary amenities for doing business.
- How to Raise Capital: The #1 Skill of an Entrepreneur. Designing a business that can bring in money is more important than what you are selling.
- Friends and family - the first source of capital. Bela Katrak talks about getting small donations and loans from friends and family to get a business off the ground.
- Pooling in finances. The director of Director of Café Coffee Day discusses persistence in gathering enough money for starting your business.
- Inadequate Funds, Business Mistake. Listen to this attorney explain how many entrepreneurs underestimate the amount of capital they need.
- Women entrepreneurs - dealing with gender-bias. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw talks about how being a young woman entrepreneur in the biotechnology industry created additional challenges she overcame.
- Importance of a Business Plan. Learn why having a business plan is essential.
- How to Write a Business Plan. Learning how to write a business plan is the next step.
- Starting a Business Goals, Costs. This management consultant details important goals to set when starting a business.
- Five Biggest Mistakes That Entrepreneurs Make. Make sure you know which mistakes to avoid when starting out on your own.
- Entrepreneurs Moonlighting, Don’t Quit Your Day Job. It might be smart to keep your day job when first starting out. Find out why.
On Leadership
Being a good leader can be a crucial part of the success of your company. Find out how you can nurture that part of your personal development.
- Critical Moments in Leadership: Changing the Rules. This panel discussion hosted by Professor Laura Cardinal examines the way effective leaders respond during critical moments that can affect the future of a business.
- Colin Turner - Entrepreneurial Leadership. Turner speaks on the importance of entrepreneurs to deliver leadership and value in business.
- Business Education & Mentoring -What type of leader are you?. Decide how you want to lead when you see these two types side-by-side.
- Scott Blanchard - Two Types of Leadership. This video teaches about strategic and operational leadership and how they affect a business.
- Ram Charan Corporate Keynote Lecture. Ram Charan discusses tips on what makes a great leader in the field of business.
- Principles of Leadership. The best people to learn from are those already successful as leaders. Hear what a few have to say here.
- Business Management During Economic Downturn - Bloomberg. The chairman and CEO of Union Pacific shares tips on how to wisely manage a business during challenging economic times.
- The Importance of Urgency. John Kotter explains his theory of urgency and why leaders should incorporate it.
- Leadership Interviews. Watch as several entrepreneurs in the San Francisco Bay area discuss what they believe makes a leader successful.
- Apprentice 4 - Business Tips Part 1. Get leadership and business tips from Donald Trump from season four of The Apprentice condensed into this video.
Negotiation
Becoming a successful negotiator means ensuring you get what you need for your business. Watch these videos to learn how to sharpen your skills.
- NLP - Are You Selling or Negotiating?. Learn the difference between selling and negotiating so you know when to perform the right action.
- Negotiation Skills: Dealing With Difficult Issues. Get the person across the table out of the crossed-arms position to help your negotiations.
- Negotiation. Listen as Professor Berman shares his insight on negotiations.
- Interview with Negotiation Expert, Eric Henry. Eric Henry breaks down the process of negotiation and describes how it relates to the study of the brain.
- Effective Business Negotiations. Brian J. Dietmeyer, CEO of Think! Inc., shares the basics of negotiations.
- Negotiations Course Part One. Based on the book Negotiate to Close, this video shares the basics of negotiation.
- Prof. Deepak Malhotra Harvard Business School. Listen to what this Harvard professor has to say about negotiation techniques.
- Cross-cultural negotiations: Avoiding the pitfalls. Professor Horacio Falcao discusses understanding cross-cultural negotiations.
- NEGOTIATION The art of survival & craft of winning. Get the basics and how to make negotiation work for you here.
- Stories #1 - To close the deal, you need to negotiate face-t. This video addresses why negotiation is often best done in person.
- Comparing American and Chinese Negotiation Styles. The founder of Negotiation-International discusses negotiations between American and Chinese businesses.
- The Culture of Deal Making. Get examples of negotiating styles from a few specific countries in this video from PharmaVentures.
- Active Listening. Professor Jeffrey Berman discusses improving listening skills to become a more effective negotiator.
Marketing
Marketing your business is how you will get the word out, so make sure you know how to do so successfully.
- Seth Godin: Sliced bread and other marketing delights. Learn from this entrepreneur why some ideas work better for getting consumer attention than others.
- Marketing Strategy - The Product Lifecycle. Get a handle on the concept of the product lifecycle so you can apply it to your product.
- 4 Secrets to an Effective Strategic Marketing Plan. Learn about strategic marketing so you can better promote your company.
- Business Education - Your are your brand. Watch this video that aligns marketing with a guy trying to meet a woman.
- Market Analysis - Market Segmentation. Find out about market segmentation and why it should matter to you.
- The Simple Truth of Service. Customer loyalty means repeat customers. Learn how to build your customer loyalty here.
- Michael Port - small business marketing coach -. Port describes ways to talk up your business.
- Customer Relationship Management and Direct Marketing (CRM). Patrick Dixon used real examples to describe the idea of Customer Relationship Management.
- Positioning: How to Stand Out in a Cluttered Market. Discover how you can make your business stand out by being known for one awesome thing.
- Fundamental Marketing Terms & Concepts (part 1). This video shares basic marketing terms for those just starting out.
- short-history-of-marketing. Watch the progression of marketing through the years and find out how consumers can feel overwhelmed and isolated by marketing.
- 51 Cool Marketing Advertising Ideas. Watch this montage that includes 51 outstanding marketing campaigns.
- Speech by Professor Bernd Schmitt. This professor from Columbia Business School delivers a lecture on the CEM Platform.
Global and Social Entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship that affects society as a whole all around the world is catching the eye of many in the business world. Find out more about it here.
- "Social Entrepreneurship" - Ashoka’s Bill Drayton speaks…. Drayton talks about entrepreneurs who make important social changes around the world.
- Key Traits of Social Entrepreneurs. Learn what traits successful social entrepreneurs have in this interview with John Elkington.
- Entrepreneur Professor Mark Ahn. Ahn discusses how entrepreneurs can make social change much more easily than big businesses.
- The Role of Markets in Addressing Social Problems. Professor Bruce Usher discusses the role of markets in addressing social problems, including sustainability.
- Can a "Green" Business Also be a Profitable One?. The CEO of Stoneyfield Farm discusses how a business can be both green and profitable.
- "Green Technology Entrepreneurship and Innovation" with Michael Lenox. Lenox discusses clean technology, innovation, and the drive behind entrepreneurship in green technology.
- Starting a Business : Making a Green Business. The founder of Sweet Leaf Tea describes how to start a business using ecologically sound resources.
- Vinod Khosla on "The Innovation Ecosystem" - Haas School. Vinod Khosla shares his thoughts on the future of green business.
- Andrew Shapiro discusses Green Business. Shapiro, founder and CEO of Green Order, explains that green businesses are ahead of other businesses in growth for the future.
- C.K. Prahalad: "Doing Well by Doing Good". Professor Prahalad describes how businesses are microfinancing citizens of developing countries with success for all involved.
- Richard Branson talks about Global Entrepreneurship Week and why he thinks entrepreneurs really can change the world small. Branson talks about how entrepreneurs can change the world in conjunction with non-profits, business, and others.
- Entrepreneurship in Africa Master Class: The Team Meets to Discuss Financial Strategies. Students at Columbia Business School and members from financial institutions talk about their entrepreneurial venture in The Peacock Hotel in Tanzania.
- Social Enterprise in India. The students at Columbia are also involved in India. Learn about their business ventures in this video.
- Muhammad Yunus: Doing Well by Doing Good. Dr. Yunus talks about a US-based microcredit program that strengthens the global economy by helping people pull themselves out of poverty.
- The 2008 Index of Economic Freedom. This video provides an overview of many countries around the world and their economic freedom ranking.
- Global Economics - Global Capital Market: Risks and Rewards. Find out how the world economy has become integrated and the implications of this integration.
- Global Economics - Global Exchange: Free Trade & Protection. Watch this video to learn about how international trade has grown over the past 35 years and its effects.
- Global Economics - Global Resources: Management and Competition. Examine the history of the distribution and exploitation of global resources and get tips for managing resources in the future.
- Global Business Tips: Germany. The Executive Vice President of Audi of America talks about the nature of German business people and how best to conduct business with them.
Hear from Entrepreneurs
Learn about how these entrepreneurs started, where they are going, and what they have to offer when it comes to starting out on your own.
- Sunil Bharti Mittal on Entrepreneurship. Learn how this entrepreneur started with just $1500 and is now head of the $5 million Bharti Group in India.
- Strategic Management: Routes to Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition. Four entrepreneurs share their experiences acquiring small businesses as a path to entrepreneurship.
- Donald Trump: Thought on Entrepreneurs. Hear a few thoughts from one of the most well-recognized entrepreneurs.
- Bill Gates at Salon Des Entrepreneurs Part 1/4. If your French is a bit rusty, skip past the introduction to hear what Gates has to say about starting out as an entrepreneur.
- Part 1 of 9 - Secrets of Entrepreneurship Lecture. Listen to serial entrepreneur and triathlete, Mitch Thrower, as he talks about entrepreneurship in this first installment of a nine-part series.
- Warren Buffett MBA Talk - Part 1. Warren Buffett talks to MBA students about how integrity is more important than intellect and ability when it comes to success in business.
- Warren Buffett MBA Talk - Part 2. Buffett fields questions from the students in the second part of this series.
- Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Together: Part 1. Jobs and Gates discuss the attributes of the other that they respect most, which are also what made them successful entrepreneurs.
- Todd McFarlane on Entrepreneurship. McFarlane talks about the intersection of art and business.
- Sara Blakely, Speaker, Entrepreneur & Founder of SPANX. Blakely talks about her business and the road to becoming a successful entrepreneur.
- Michael Dell’s Advice to Entrepreneurs. Skip to 2:00 to find out what advice Dell has to offer to young entrepreneurs.
- Entrepreneur Carol Lee Anderson. Anderson talks about women entrepreneurs and what traits they have that makes them successful.
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Law enforcement careers are some of the most plentiful in the nation, as new units open up nearly every year. Law enforcement opportunities extend far beyond the typical scope of employment, and reach on to positions that were previously not considered only a few years ago. With crime on the rise, it become more important to recruit valuable employees who are up to the task of patrolling the streets and keeping criminals in check.
Law enforcement careers can range from typical police work up to FBI and CIA units. While it seems like there is a massive difference between the two, many police departments are slowly becoming more specialized as the times call for it. There used to be only one type of police officer: the kind who pulled you over for tickets, researched into domestic disputes, tracked down murderers, you get the picture. However, now there are detectives for every department, and new departments to say the least that are in charge of every type of miniscule difference in crimes. Narcotics teams track drug trafficking and help out the border patrol, while the homicide unit focuses (of course) on homicides.
Depending what element of crime you are most intrigued by, can cement your place within a law enforcement career. If you are more interested in the criminal mindset, then detective work seems most like a possible law enforcement career. However, keep in mind that the media has portrayed law enforcement to be a career which is vastly different from that in the real world. There are not always leads in cases, and many cases go unsolved for years before any evidence pops up. Forensic analysis is another new part of law enforcement which requires a special degree to even get hired for many law enforcement centers. Forensics is one way that modern technology has now allowed us to solve cases through evidence that the criminal may have left lying around. This advance in technology has helped solve a multitude of crimes and has opened up a new realm of law enforcement.
If you want to get even more specialized than police departments offer, there are always the FBI and CIA, two organizations which have been around for decades. Despite their longevity, however, these organizations have come up with new departments almost every year, as the times have evolved (and crime as well). If you are more intrigued with the new departments such as terrorist units, then you will have to get advanced degrees within the subject to even be considered for the profession. However, these organizations are more on the fringe of the traditional notion of law enforcement careers. No matter what path law enforcement takes you, it is a welcome relief from the daily life of ordinary citizens and allows you a glimpse into the more “daredevil” world of criminals.
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If you’re looking for a job or internship in this economic climate, you’re probably tearing your hair out just to get an interview. But once you get in the door, you’re still in no position to relax. Employers and recruiters can ask you all kinds of questions to make you uncomfortable and think on your feet, and they often do. But if you’re prepared, you’ll be able to handle any type of ridiculous interview question, whether you’re a rookie college grad or a veteran job searcher. Here’s our list of 20 ridiculous and insane questions you may be asked during your next interview.
- What kind of Star Trek or Star Wars character would you be?: If you’re not a trekkie or into Star Wars at all, this could be an especially terrifying question for you. But as long as you don’t pick a well-known villain or psychopath and instead try to relate yourself to a likable science-fiction leader, you should be okay.
- If aliens landed in front of you and, in exchange for anything you desire, offered you any position on their planet, what would you want?: If you’d like them to indulge any kind of sex, drugs or rock ‘n’ roll fantasy, you’ll be crossed off the list. Instead, try to think of something constructive and creative that makes you stand out for being clever.
- Can I look in your purse?: On the Ask a Manager blog, a reader answered a call for weird interview questions from the blogger’s post on the U.S. News & World Report website. The reader explained that her interviewer asked if he could look inside her purse to evaluate how organized she was. Many interviewees might feel that this question crosses the line of personal space and privacy, and there may not be a right or wrong answer. Just make sure your bag is clean before showing up.
- If you were given a free full-page ad in the newspaper and had to sell yourself in six words or less, how would the ad read?: Interview coach Lewis Lin highlights on his blog this question featured in the book High-Impact Interview Questions. It’s actually a straightforward question, just asked in a roundabout way. Just think of the words that best describe you on your resume, and try to add a couple of creative adjectives to set you apart from everyone else.
- How do you feel about affirmative action?: The woman who was asked this question in an interview felt that it was inappropriate and interpreted it as her interviewer trying to feel out her personal beliefs, and whether or not she would "fit in" with the rest of the employees there.
- Why are manhole covers round?: This weird question has actually been asked in more than one interview. The trick to answering is to think outside the box and come up with a creative answer, even if it’s a little ridiculous. After all, it’s a weird question.
- Are you a cat person?: An article on Experience.com that collected real-life weird interview questions included this submission from "Lea." Some people believe that there are certain personality traits that go along with dog people vs. cat people, and the interviewer appears to have been partial to those conclusions.
- If you were a salad, what kind of dressing would you have?: This question is asked to evaluate a job candidate’s personality. If you’re just plain oil and vinegar, for example, you might come across as boring.
- How do I rate as an interviewer?: There isn’t really a choice in how to answer this question, but you don’t want to gush either, especially if you haven’t been very forthcoming in the interview thus far. Try to point to specific questions that you liked, demonstrating your attentiveness and sincerity.
- If you were a bicycle, what part would you be?: This question is another example of interviewers trying to identify your personality and creativity. If you pick the seat, you’re probably a stable, supportive person, and if you pick the handlebars, you’re probably a leader.
- How many gas stations would you say there are in the United States?: There’s no way of knowing off hand how many gas stations there are in the United States, but if you verbalize your plan for figuring out the question, you’ll show how you’re able to solve large problems. Just shooting off some random huge number will make you look lazy and unable to organize big projects.
- What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?: This is another question submitted to Experience.com by a reader named Sarah. She was unable to select one specific flavor but answered "the ice cream would have to have little pieces or swirls of something mixed in because I appreciate variety." Her interviewers appreciated her creativity and independence, and she was offered the job.
- If you won the lottery, what would you do with the money?: This is actually a popular interview question used to evaluate character, planning and creativity. Like the alien question, it’s best not to answer according to your physical or secret slacker desires, but to demonstrate your ability to organize and make the most of your opportunities.
- What did you want to be when you were 10 years old?: If you wanted to be an astronaut when you were 10 and are interviewing for a bank job now, you don’t have to be embarrassed or feel like a failure. Try to relate your childhood dreams to the aspirations and goals you have now, pointing to the personality traits you’ve grown into.
- If you were on a merry-go-round, what song would you be singing?: This question is all about creativity and showing off your true personality. Go with your gut instinct, and pick the song that makes you happy and chills you out the most.
- What would I find in your refrigerator?: Interviewers may ask you this question to learn more about your personality and your character. If your refrigerator is completely empty except for stale milk, you may come across as a poor planner.
- Can you tell a joke?: In an ideal situation, you would be able to answer this question with a clever joke, but it’s also okay to laugh at yourself if you can’t tell a joke. Instead, try to find a way to present your own sense of humor — in a tasteful way, of course.
- Who do you like best, your mom or dad?: No one wants you to say that you hate your mom or dad, so just explain how they’re different, always stressing the positive traits. Discussing how they’ve influenced you is also a good idea.
- What makes you angry?: Patty Inglish considers this a tricky question and suggests that you be very careful about admitting to getting angry. Instead, focus on how you constructively deal with situations that frustrate or bug you.
- What is your perception of the painting in the lobby?: At first, this question may seem completely random and useless; however, it’s a good indication of how detailed you are and how much you’re tuned into the world around you. When you show up to the interview, take a moment to let the office atmosphere affect you so that you’re prepared for these types of questions.
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