CeCe Winans To Launch 2nd Annual Always Sisters Girl’s Conference

It’s count down time for the 2nd Annual Always Sisters Girl’s Conference, the anticipation of this year’s event is building. All roads lead to Belmont University’s Curb Event Center in Nashville, TN, August 4th & 5th. Gospel singer, CeCe Winans, is taking a stand for today’s youth. Her vision is to offer our young girls a promising future, by providing a platform for them to be heard and encouraged.

Winans, determined to see the conference launched, set out last year with no financial backing. “I didn’t fully realize how many of our youth we were losing to suicide and AIDS, I just couldn’t wait any longer”, says Winans. This year, she called upon friends in the entertainment industry to join her significant mission. Film maker/author/playwright, Tyler Perry; The Oprah Winfrey Foundation; Mercy Ministries (transitional home for young women); Pastors; American Airlines; Promise Keepers and Verizon Wireless to name a few, have given generous donations. Verizon is inviting this year’s “Always Sisters” attendees to bring their used wireless cell phones to the Nashville conference and donate them to the company’s Hope-Line phone recycling program. All proceeds from the sale of recycled phones will help purchase wireless phones for domestic violence survivors (visit http://www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline). Once Winans put the word out that she needed help to make this event happen, the donations came.

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Football Superstar Tiki Barber Kicks Off National Sickle Cell Education Campaign

Tiki Barber, education advocate and one of the most versatile players in National Football League history, today kicked off a new national education campaign called Be Sickle Smart: Ask Tiki about Iron. Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a serious, life-long blood disorder that can increase a child’s risk for stroke and affects an estimated one in 500 African Americans.

Tiki is partnering with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation to educate patients and their families about SCD and iron overload, a consequence of repeated blood transfusions that are a standard treatment to help reduce the complications of SCD in some patients. In SCD, red blood cells become deformed and can block blood vessels. In 2004, the Stroke Prevention Trial in Sickle Cell Anemia (STOP II) conducted by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute found that continued blood transfusions help prevent the risk of stroke (a disruption of blood flow to the brain) in some children with SCD. However, regular blood transfusions can cause too much iron to build up in the body and damage key organs such as the liver or heart.

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Gospel Artist Cece Winans To Judge Whirlpool’s Second Annual “Spirit of Cooking” Competition

The Whirlpool brand cooking team and the company’s African American Network seek to spread the Gospel of good food, praise and community with the Second Annual “Spirit of Cooking” competition. The nationwide search for recipes will elicit an “Amen” from all who taste them. Whirlpool brand wants to bring the spirit of a church pot-luck to the masses with the help of gospel legend CeCe Winans and National Public Radio commentator Vertamae Grosvenor who will serve as judges.

Gourmands and the faithful are invited to share their praise-worthy recipes via the Web at http://www.whirlpool.com/spirit. Contestants can submit a recipe for one of the following four categories: * Jump-Up and-Shout Main Dish * Too-Good-to-be-True Side Dish * Celestially Sweet Dessert * Bless Your Heart Health Conscious Alternative (because a healthy heart is a temple, too). Whirlpool wants to share stand-out recipes from these categories with the world and, in turn, share some love and appliances with the Grand Prize winner (the entrant garnering the most overall points) who will personally receive a Whirlpool brand suite of kitchen appliances and an exciting, mid-week live performance by CeCe Winans for his/her church. The parishioner with the greatest total number of points in each category will win a $5,000 donation for his/her church from Whirlpool brand.

Last year’s winning recipes were Oxtails in a Bag; a creative Baked Beans recipe; Melt in Your Mouth White Chocolate Almond Cheesecake; and Mutha’s Favorite Chicken Salad. What recipes will America’s churches come up with next to lift America’s spirits? Whirlpool, along with CeCe Winans and Vertamae Grosvenor, wants to know.

“Good food and Praise go hand in hand in our churches,” said CeCe Winans, herself a Grammy-award winning artist who has come to represent the contemporary image of Gospel music. “I’m delighted to be joining Whirlpool as they honor the longstanding legacy of community and worship that are an important part of the African American experience.”

Adds Vertamae Grosvenor, “the kitchen is a temple unto itself for the African American community. America is in for a beautiful lesson in culinary excellence and community spirit through this contest and I can’t wait to see who’s going to shine in this competition.”

To raise the stakes even higher, Glory Foods, the makers of Southern-style dishes (canned and frozen), is offering the winners of the contest an array of Glory Foods by category of entry.

Recipes will be judged based on taste/quality, unique or alternative ingredients, ease of duplication/replication and preparation and cooking time. The Grand Prize winner will be based upon total overall points regardless of the entry category.

The deadline for entries is September 25, 2006. Winners will be notified by October 20th, 2006. Contestants can visit http://www.whirlpool.com/spirit for complete rules and more information on the contest, or they can send in their star recipes to:

Spirit of Cooking
C/O Peppercom
470 Park Avenue South
Fifth Floor
New York, NY 10016
Attention: Marya Pongrace

Via PRNewswire

The Late C. DeLores Tucker Honored With Historical Marker In Philadelphia

Pennsylvania’s first African-American Secretary of State, the late C. DeLores Tucker, was honored with an official state historical marker outside her home in Philadelphia. Tucker was a civil rights leader and a force behind the formation of the first Commission on the Status of Women.

“C. DeLores Tucker was a catalyst for change in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania whose concerns ranged from civil rights to voting rights to rap music lyrics,” said PHMC Executive Director Barbara Franco. “Her influence impacted national programs as well as local and state issues.”

Tucker worked to promote women and African-Americans to state boards and commissions and was instrumental in changing the voting age from 21 to 18 years of age.

Another historical marker was dedicated to her in April and stands near the Capitol Complex in Harrisburg. The marker dedicated today is outside her home of 47 years at 6700 Lincoln Dr., Philadelphia.

This marker joins over 2,500 others that depict people, places and events of interest in the commonwealth. For information on the historical marker program, visit http://www.phmc.state.pa.us.

The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission is the official history agency of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Via PRNewswire

Comedian Steve Harvey To Host The 11th Annual Bermuda Music Festival

The multi-talented Steve Harvey, comedian, actor and radio personality, will host this year’s much anticipated Bermuda Music Festival October 4-7, 2006. The “King of Comedy” brings added funk to the 11th annual music festival’s already eclectic combination of rhythm & blues, jazz and soul – along with an easy-to-book travel package – to the lineup of legendary stars.

This year’s showstoppers include legends such as Gladys Knight, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and Charlie Wilson of The Gap Band, while also highlighting chart toppers such as India.Arie, Teena Marie and Anthony Hamilton. The favorite songs of classic soul groups such as The Original Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston & Blue Lovette, Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes and The Trammps will beckon guests to groove on Bermuda’s pink sand.

Set on a spectacular stage built over the water at Bermuda’s historic Royal Naval Dockyard, the Bermuda Music Festival’s current performance schedule is as follows:

* Wednesday, October 4 at Fairmont Southampton, Whaler Inn
Performers: Harold Melvin’s Blue Notes, The Trammps and a Bermudian artist

* Thursday, October 5 at Royal Naval Dockyard
Performers: Steve Harvey as emcee, Gladys Knight, The Original Manhattans featuring Gerald Alston & Blue Lovette and Bermudian artists

* Friday, October 6 at Royal Naval Dockyard
Performers: Steve Harvey as emcee, Charlie Wilson of the Gap Band, India.Arie, Anthony Hamilton and Bermudian artists

* Saturday, October 7 at Royal Naval Dockyard
Performers: Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Teena Marie, Bermuda’s own Ras Mykkal and other Bermudian artists

For ticket and package information, please visit the Bermuda Music Festival website at http://www.bermudamusicfestival.com or call 800-BERMUDA (800-237-6832). Fairmont is the official host hotel of the 2006 Bermuda Music Festival.

For more information about Bermuda, visit http://www.bermudatourism.com.

Via PRNewswire

Vin Diesel And BET Networks Get Animated

BET Networks’ newly-minted animation unit will join with Vin Diesel’s One Race Productions to produce “Hannibal the Conqueror,” an animated series based on the life of Hannibal of Carthage, universally recognized as the greatest military leader in the history of the world. The project was jointly announced by Vin Diesel and Reginald Hudlin, BET President of Entertainment. One Race Vice President Samantha Vincent and Diesel will executive produce. Last January, BET announced the formation of BET Animation under the management of Denys Cowan, former producer of the hit animated series “The Boondocks.”

The series will span the life of Hannibal, from his tutelage as a warrior under his father, the king of Carthage, to his history-making invasions of Spain, England and his legendary scaling of the Alps with his army of elephants. He assembled an army from around the world to challenge the Roman Empire and his techniques and plans are still studied today.

“From my first week at BET, I have been pursuing this project,” says Hudlin. “Vin Diesel brings great thought and passion to both character development and storylines, and we are pleased to be the first to be in the animation production business with Vin and One Race Productions. ‘Hannibal’ will be epic storytelling.”

“It only took Reginald Hudlin becoming President of Entertainment for me to know that BET would be the perfect network to launch a ‘Hannibal’ franchise, the story of the great African general who fought an empire,” said Diesel. “Having worked passionately for ten years to develop a film property on Hannibal, this animated series will offer audiences a chance to begin to understand the larger-than-life mythology of this classic figure.”

Further information about the series was also presented during a BET animation panel at the Comic-Con International Conference in San Diego, the world’s largest gathering of the animation and comic book industry.

Via PRNewswire

Alonzo Mourning Awards Children For Community Service

Shown Above: Miami Heat center Alonzo Mourning awards eight disadvantaged children from the Boys and Girls Clubs in New York and Miami areas for outstanding community service. Alonzo Mourning Charities and the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau sponsored the students and their families for a trip to Miami during Zo’s Summer Groove.

Founded in 1997, Alonzo Mourning Charities, Inc. is a fundraising foundation that provides support to organizations that serve children and “youth of promise” with an emphasis on school age children. The foundation has raised over $5 million for various organizations that aid in the development of underserved children and their families. For more information visit http://www.amcharities.org .

Via PRNewsFoto

Internationally Known Archivist To Head Up The Martin Luther King Jr. Collection

Morehouse College has hired Brenda S. Banks as Chief Archivist to facilitate organizing more than 10,000 pieces of the Martin Luther King Jr. Collection at Morehouse College, King’s undergraduate alma mater. Morehouse received the collection, which includes more than 7,000 pieces written in King’s hand, after Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin and other civic and corporate leaders struck an eleventh-hour, multi-million dollar deal last month to keep the coveted collection from being auctioned to the highest bidder by Sotheby’s auction house in New York City.

As Chief Archivist of the Martin Luther King Jr. Collection at Morehouse College, Banks will work closely with archivists at the Robert W. Woodruff Library and Morehouse College Archivist Herman “Skip” Mason to catalogue and archive every piece of the collection.

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Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Hosts 48th National Convention In Philadelphia

Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., the nation’s largest African-American women’s organization, is hosting its 48th National Convention in Philadelphia, July 27 – August 2, 2006, at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. Delta members representing chapters in 46 states and several foreign countries will convene at the biennial meeting.

One Mission, One Sisterhood: Empowering Communities Through Committed Service is the theme for the national convention, whose purpose is to address issues relevant to African-American women, their families, and respective communities. Throughout its 93-year history Delta Sigma Theta has clearly distinguished itself as a premiere service organization that boldly addresses the challenges facing global communities.

“After 85 years, we are delighted to be returning to the hometown of our beloved first national president, Dr. Sadie T. M. Alexander,” said Dr. Louise A. Rice, Delta’s 23rd national president. “The last time we convened here for a national convention was in 1921. We look forward to being in Philadelphia later this month with more than 12,000 of our members represented.”

Dr. Alexander was the first black woman to earn a Ph.D. in the United States, the first black woman admitted to the Pennsylvania bar, and the first black woman graduate of the University of Pennsylvania Law School.

During the convention, Delta’s national leaders will present updates on major initiatives in the areas of education, economic development, political awareness, health and wellness, social justice, and art and culture. Its healthy lifestyles task force will address the high incidence of obesity among women by urging Delta members and all women of color to achieve healthy weight goals. Delta’s Social Action Commission will focus on race and poverty as they affect African-Americans.

Founded in 1913, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. is a public service organization composed of college-educated, predominantly African-American women. The Sorority has more than 900 chapters in the United States, England, Japan, Germany, the Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Bahamas, Jamaica and the Republic of Korea. More than 200,000 women have been initiated into its ranks.

http://www.deltasigmatheta.org

Via PRNewswire

Affluent African Americans Shown To Be Wealthier Than The Overall Affluent Market

According to findings from Phoenix Cultural Access Group and Phoenix Marketing International’s Affluent Marketing Practice, affluent African Americans hold approximately an average of $1.3 million in investable assets compared to $992,000 in investable assets of the overall affluent market.

In addition, they show higher household incomes, slightly higher total net worth and total assets at an average of eight years younger (46) then their overall affluent counterparts (54). The age has actually declined in recent years (49 to 46) indicating opportunities to tap into this powerful and growing market, who are also far less likely to be retired.

The findings indicate that Affluent African-Americans are more bullish than the average affluent investor, are more consolidation-oriented and place more importance on having a financial plan. Nevertheless, only 52% have designated a primary professional advisor, compared with nearly two-thirds of all affluent households. African Americans appear to be much less satisfied with their advisors and are less loyal than their affluent counterparts. “Although Affluent African Americans seem to have higher expectations from their financial advisors”, states Mark Boles, Vice President of Phoenix Cultural Access Group, “the opportunity to present service is there since most want to have a financial plan in place even more so than their overall affluent counterparts”. African Americans are interested in much more conservative products such as CDs, REITs and insurance.

The Phoenix Affluent Marketing Service (AMS) program is a continuously fielded survey of affluent and high net worth households throughout the U.S., and provides a twice yearly summary of affluent and high net worth household investment, financial and affluent lifestyle behaviors and attitudes. Data for this article was drawn from the 2004-05 AMS program, consisting of 7,842 interviews with affluent and near affluent households. The margin of error is +/- 2.5 percentage points at the 95% level of confidence.

Via PRNewswire

Call Him ‘MR. BROWN’: Sleepy Brown’s Solo Debut Album To Arrive September 26th

One of the most valuable players in urban music steps to center stage as SLEEPY BROWN’s first Purple Ribbon/Virgin album, “MR. BROWN” arrives in stores September 26th, 2006. His debut as a solo artist comes after more than a decade of respected production and songwriting work in the R&B and hip-hop fields.

Although Sleepy Brown is best known to the mass public for his sterling vocal work on the OutKast singles “The Way You Move” and “So Fresh, So Clean,” the new album’s lead off single, “Margarita,” will inevitably make Sleepy’s own name with its potent cocktail of sensual vocals and irresistible rhythms, produced by the hit-making Neptunes, featuring guest spots by the Neptunes’ own Pharrell Williams, and longtime OutKast collaborator/Purple Ribbon label head Big Boi.

Brown’s deep and diverse list of credits as a member of the pioneering Atlanta-based Organized Noize production team includes production and co-production of the first four OutKast albums, including the Grammy-winning Stankonia, and classic singles by TLC (“Waterfalls”), En Vogue (“Don’t Let Go [Love]“), and others. The solo album “MR. BROWN” promises to be as original and innovative as these production successes — while continuing to champion the genuine musical values of vintage R&B.

The “Margarita” music video featuring Big Boi and Pharrell shot in Majorca, Spain is debuting with major coverage on several VH1 outlets, including special July 17th world premiere events on VH1.com and on the VH1 Soul cable channel, where it plays every hour on the hour and is added in power rotation. The video will also be added on the same day to the MTV Jams channel August 10th. The making-of story of the “Margarita” clip is featured on MTV2′s Makes a Video program on July 31st.

“Margarita” is currently bulleting on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles and Tracks chart, where it debuted last month. SLEEPY BROWN has previously charted on the Rap Singles and R&B chart in collaborations with Ludacris and Murphy Lee, but it was his blissful and melodious vocal work on OutKast’s “The Way You Move” that made for his first Billboard Hot 100 No. 1 in early 2004. Taking over that position from the previous OutKast single, “Hey Ya!” it was only the seventh time in pop chart history that any artist succeeded its own record at No. 1.

Via PRNewswire

Nick At Nite Goes Back To School When A Different World Premieres On The Network

Prepare for big laughs on campus when the ensemble comedy A Different World joins the Nick at Nite line-up on Wednesday, July 19, 2006 with a four-hour marathon beginning at 10 p.m. ET/PT. The sitcom, the first of its kind, introduced viewers to life at a historically black college and tackled social and political issues rarely explored on television. The series will air in its regularly scheduled timeslot of 10 p.m. from Monday-Friday beginning July 22.

“A Different World is a ground-breaking series that truly had one of the most talented ensemble casts on television,” states Larry W. Jones, President, TV Land and Nick at Nite. “Filled with cultural vibrancy, the show explored so many important issues of our time and we are proud to add it to Nick at Nite’s line-up.”

This comedy was a spin-off of the hugely popular The Cosby Show and aired on NBC from 1987 to 1993. Set at the fictitious, historically black Hillman College in the South, it centered around Denise Huxtable (Lisa Bonet), one of the four daughters on The Cosby Show. Denise is constantly trying to adjust to the changes of living away from home on her own as well as deal with her roommates Jaleesa (Dawnn Lewis), a young divorcee and Maggie (Marisa Tomei), a free-spirited and naive girl who also happens to be one of the only white students on campus. Other characters in the series include Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy), a rich Southern belle; Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison), a nerdy but fast-talking New Yorker, his best friend Ron Johnson (Darryl Bell) and Walter Oakes (Sinbad), who was the dorm director. There were various changes after the first season when Lisa Bonet left the series. Debbie Allen took over as producer and director after the first season, turning the show into one which explored more social and political issues. Controversial topics such as AIDS, racial discrimination, date rape and the 1992 Los Angeles uprisings were all addressed, and several new characters were added, such as: Kim Reese (Charnele Brown), a pre-med student; Mr. Gaines (Lou Myers), the cafeteria cook; Col. Taylor (Glynn Turman), the campus ROTC commander; Freddie Brooks (Cree Summer), an environmental activist and Lena James (Jada Pinkett), a feisty freshman from Baltimore. The series also gave more prominence to the romantic relationship of Dwayne and Whitley, who became the show’s main stars.

Currently seen in more than 88 million U.S. homes, Nick at Nite features timeless hit comedies: The Cosby Show — this Emmy Award-winning sitcom is one of the network’s highest-rated shows: Full House — this popular family comedy launched on the network in October and is one of the highest-rated and most popular syndicated programs in television; and Roseanne, one of the most talk-about and celebrated sitcoms in television history.

Via PRNewswire

Grand Opening of Historic, Minority-Owned Harlem Dealership

General Motors Corp.’s Harlem Auto Mall, Harlem’s first new-car dealership in 40 years, celebrated its grand opening in June. Billed as “GM Harlem Day”, ADP Dealer Services joined GM’s Minority Dealer Association (GMMDA) and notables such as the Rev. Jesse Jackson, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, and GM Chairman and CEO Rick Wagoner, in honoring GM and Harlem Auto Mall’s Chevrolet Saturn dealer principal, ADP client Otis Thornton.

The Harlem Auto Mall is now the largest auto sales and service center in Manhattan. The facility has brought multiple jobs to Harlem residents.

Thornton, a GM dealer and ADP customer since 1993, also owns East Brunswick Buick Pontiac GMC in New Jersey. He is the first African-American to own and operate a dealership in Harlem, and is recognized as a pioneer for minority dealers nationwide.

“Minority dealers represent the fastest growing segment of dealer owners,” said Anenen, who attended the GM Harlem Day celebration. “With leading edge technology solutions, ADP wants to help OEMs build upon this positive trend with more dealers like Otis, who understand the communities they serve and preserve a commitment of excellence to large, urban markets with diverse clientele.”

Thornton emphasizes catering to his multi-ethnic clientele. Various employees can communicate in languages such as Spanish, Chinese, Korean and German, and employees work diligently to harness the significant buying power of upper Manhattan.

RLJ Companies Launches ‘Our Stories Films’ in Association With The Weinstein Company

Privately held RLJ Companies, LLC (“RLJ”) controlled by Robert L. Johnson, founder of BET and owner of the NBA Charlotte Bobcats, today announced that it has entered into a new venture with The Weinstein Company (“TWC”) to create a film company that will produce titles in the African-American family comedy genre. The announcement was made jointly today by Robert L. Johnson and Bob and Harvey Weinstein, co-chairmen of The Weinstein Company.

RLJ will launch Our Stories Films (“Our Stories”) shortly and the firm will be headquartered in Los Angeles with offices in New York City. Our Stories titles will be theatrically distributed by The Weinstein Company’s Dimension Films and on DVD by Genius Products, Inc. (OTC Bulletin Board: GNPI). Under the agreement, TWC will have an equity stake in the venture. Robert L. Johnson will run Our Stories and will control the decisions to produce, acquire and finance film projects. JP Morgan Chase has committed to financing the venture with up to $175 million under terms to be negotiated.

“We are thrilled to partner with Harvey and Bob Weinstein to fulfill this vision,” stated Robert L. Johnson, Chairman of Our Stories Films, “Never before has an African-American had ‘green light authority’ at a studio combined with this quality of financing and a distribution partner that has a proven track record in successful urban films.”

Bob and Harvey Weinstein stated, “We are proud to be behind this venture and are confident in Bob Johnson’s taste and his ability to identify projects that will be successful. We are committed to releasing a slate of films focused in the African-American family genre and to working with Our Stories to launch their exciting new brand.”

John W. Miller, Managing Director of JP Morgan Chase, stated, “This is a project that is long overdue in Hollywood and we are honored to be a part of making it happen. We could not be more excited about working with Bob Johnson, a partner who clearly understands the financial realities of the film business, and what it takes to market urban-based consumers.” The company has begun assembling a topflight management team to be announced in the near future.

Hollywood Celebrities Super-Freaked Over Rick James Tell-All Docu-Pic

HiddenDoor Documedia announced some of the names of celebrities involved in the big screen documentary “I’m Rick James.”

“I’m Rick James” reveals the behind-the-scenes life of the music legend and his love of partying. Many big names are purportedly on board to reveal their wild exploits with James. Some celebrities may be warned to prepare their alibis now. According to Janice Dickinson, whose interview is “in the can,” Rick’s all-nighters with celebrities in Studio 54′s VIP room are notorious. She also claims James’ penchant for women was as legendary as his music. Stories of James staying up late with Tatum O’Neal, Elisabeth Shue, Linda Blair, Prince, Mick Jagger, Rod Stewart and Eddie Murphy are on the buzz list. And there’s a tale of a wild car ride with Rick and a Hollywood star on Park Avenue that ended in a crash. Rick’s security guard allegedly took the blame while Rick and his celebrity pal drove away in another vehicle.

Producer Perry Santos, of HiddenDoor Documedia, claims it’s a snapshot of history: “The eighties were a party era. Everyone was living large. It just happens to be the era of Rick James. You can’t tell the story of Rick without conveying the historical context.” Santos explains that there are many dimensions of Rick, like his overwhelming generosity, the genesis of his musical talent and his fascination with religion. In fact, Santos says, Rick was also something of a revolutionary, and his battles with the establishment are as legendary as his party lifestyle. The film will weave the facts and stories of his life into a gripping narrative no one will want to miss, especially the celebrities who lived it all with Rick.

The film is being co-produced by the star’s daughter, Ty James, who shares her memories and offers commentary. Also look for commentary from current artists like Dave Chappelle, Charlie Murphy, Busta Rhymes, and Snoop Dogg. A soundtrack of well-known and previously unreleased musical tracks is also in the works.

James died in August 2004. Just two months before, he talked about making a film of his life: “My life has not been a total comedy, I’m sorry. But there’s been some tragedy here too, you know. It’s got a lot of stuff in it. It’s basically drugs, sex, funk’n'roll.”

Via PRNewswire

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