Michael is an experienced tech entrepreneur and digital marketing specialist. Having spent time as a marketing specialist at Taktical, a digital marketing agency, Michael learned the skills necessary to build up the traffic and growth for any website or app. Michael further grew his expertise as Head of SEO at Fueled, one of New York’s top rated app development agencies. There Michael learned necessary management, business development, and app marketing skills. Finally, Michael founded SEMnexus, an SEO & digital marketing agency with an emphasis on mobile app marketing.
Amongst being Founder, and President of Ellen Jacoby Casting International, Jacoby finds time to lecture; teach and coach acting courses; devote her time to various local charities including Cystic Fibrosis and the YMCA; has worked with the local Police to provide alternative lifestyle programs for youth with rap sheets; and often donates her time to give lectures to various schools throughout the state. She was part of the initial local consortium to recognize how important the Caribbean, and the Bahamas were to the local Florida production business, and subsequently has worked with the Bahamian government on numerous productions, that brought work to Florida residents and companies.
Having worked with a who’s who of Hollywood directors, including: Steven Soderbergh, Joel Schumacher, Sidney Pollack, The Farrelly Bros., Bob Zemekis, Ron Howard, Mike Nicols, Michael Bay, Randa Haines, Tom Shadyac, Martin Scorsese, Tim Burton, Garry Marshall, John Landis, James Cameron, Joe Roth, Mira Nair and Tony Scott, Ellen Jacoby is one name that Hollywood keeps at the tip of its tongues, and at the top of its address book.
QIL is an electronic music songwriter, producer, performer and DJ. He’s known for writing and performing conceptual electronic dance music with ear candy hooks, thoughtful lyrics, and infectious beats.
QIL’s track ‘United in Dance’ ranked #2 on the BILLBOARD Dance Music Charts and has over half a million streams on Spotify. QIL wrote ‘United in Dance’ with Crystal Waters and R-Naldo.
QIL has co-written tracks with internationally renowned diva Crystal Waters, Jerry Wonda (Fugees), Grammy Award winner Andre Fossari, DJ/Producer Chris Malinchak DJ/Producer Daneon (MAX – ‘Lights Down Low’) and with 2 time Grammy award winner Eddie Perez among others.
QIL has an eclectic array of influences from House Music to Indie Rock, Moombahton to Mozart, Hip Hop to K-Pop that inform his musical palette and infuses it with an international vibe.
Aesthetically and philosophically, QIL is fascinated with the melding of ‘analog’ human culture and the emerging ’digital culture’. From
anthropomorphic robot love to interstellar travel, QIL’s songs reflect on what is real and what is virtual in the age of rampant AI and how these futuristic elements affect our humanity and ‘Touch our Soul’ ( or not ).
QIL has performed at events across the USA with artists as diverse as DJ Dougie Fresh and Marilyn Manson.
QIL has tracks on ‘Total Divas’ ( E! Network – Feb 2016 ) and on the soundtrack of the upcoming new film ‘Lamar Odom: Reborn’ by Zappy
Zapolin, Director of ‘The Reality of Truth’ with Michelle Rodriguez.
QIL’s tracks are available on Spotify, SoundCloud, Google Play, Reverb Nation and iTunes ( Under ‘Hi FI Gemini’ ).
QIL resides in Delray Beach, Florida and spends his time between Miami, LA and New York City.
Instagram: QilMusic
SoundCloud: Soundcloud.com/QilMusic
Web: QilMusic.com
Phil Lebovits is a successful writer/performer.
In Boston, he made his living as an improv actor in his comedy group “Guilty Children,” and had the pleasure of working with a young Steve Carrell when Steve joined the group for its first summer.
Six months after moving to Los Angeles, Phil became a lead actor on the HBO series “Night Rap,” where he played the character of Saul Fleishman, a prominent L.A. caterer and “Madonna’s secret lover.”
He has also appeared on Fox, MTV, and Comedy Central (on a comedy series called “Limboland.”)
As a musician, he wrote the opening song for the Michael Caine movie “The Debtors.”
Phil is looking forward to appearing as a regular guest on “DreamOway.”
My name is Alfredo Versace and I was born in the South of Italy. As a matter of fact, half of the town was named Versace. That is because my father’s family had six siblings. My grandfather’s family had another five children so there were a lot of relations in the town I was born, Bianconovo. My father came from one town over, Carmelo Versace, which is about 5 kilometers , named Bovolino. Gianni Versace’s father was also born in Bovolino. My father and Gianni’s father were cousins and had the same grandfather. Gianni was born in Bovolino too.
In 1952, after arriving from Italy, my father was involved in producing artificial flowers which were used on hats and dresses. Most evenings he would bring home a box of flowers and stems and wires and we would assemble them after dinner. One of the stores that bought these flowers was A & S, Abraham and Strauss. In the 50’s that was one of the leading department stores. My mother would take me downtown Brooklyn where A&S was located and we would shop. If there was an occasion my mother would buy me a suite from A & S and she would point out the garments and hats with the flowers and she would say: “This is one of the flowers you made”. That would give me a great sense of joy that I made something that other people would wear. Later on my mother would do additional work by sewing piece work. This entailed assembling garments for later sale. That is when I discovered that I enjoyed producing products. From that point on I decided that I was going to create objects that gave me pleasure. In 1957 the family moved to Coral Gables, Florida and my father and his associate were involved in a handbag company called Style Craft. That was my first experience working with handbags. I loved the idea of creating handbags and today I create handbags that are hand made from rare and exotic skins. This is why I call them one of a kind because you cannot produce a handbag identical to another. The hand cutting prevents that. That is why these handbags are unique. These handbags will never go out of style as they are timeless pieces.
When I was 20 years old, we opened up the first AV store on 4th Avenue and Sackett Street in Brooklyn. The second store under the AV Versace name was opened on Crescent Street and Liberty Avenue, also in Brooklyn. That was back in the mid 60’s. There we began to make garments for private sale. My first seamstress was named Maria and from that point on I began to produce tops, pants and skirts for women. In the early 70’s I was struggling to make a living and did construction work and tailoring on the side, especially in the summer. In 1975 I opened a showroom on Broadway and 29th Street in Manhattan along with with a partner named John Choi. We had connections in China and they could produce a pair of jeans for a very low price, which was then sold to Guyana. In 1978 I purchased a showroom on 39th Street and Fifth Avenue from Maurice Sassoon. We were doing sampling and we began to do men’s clothing from that store. Maurice Sassoon at that time was going to sell his name and get out of the business of selling jeans. He gave me everything in the showroom and he only wanted one thing out of the showroom. A desk and chair that came from Israel and belonged to his family. I told him I would save the desk and chair and keep it safe until he retrieved it. Here we are today in 2012 and I am still holding on to the chair and desk for him. If Maurice happens to read this, please contact me and I will deliver the chair and desk for you as I still have them. After 37 years, I am still dragging these items around with me after moving at least a dozen times.
In the early 80’s, I opened a store on Cortelyou Road in Brooklyn. We produced men’s garments. In 1986 I purchased a store on 34th Street and Sixth Avenue. In 1987 I opened Versace Boutique and began to sell rare perfumes, women’s gloves, scarves and elegant tops and bottoms. Versace Boutique was a beautiful store made of marble and brass. Being across the street from Macy’s Gianni Versace just produced his first bottle of men’s cologne and they would not sell to me. At that time I did not have a perfume under my name. They advised me that I was too close to Macy’s to sell Gianni Versace’s men’s cologne. I called Gianni Versace in Milan and I said that I wanted to carry his cologne but I was across the street from Macy’s and I was not allowed to sell his brand. Gianni replied that the cologne did not belong to him but belonged to Yves St. Laurent. He also advised me that if I wanted to put the cologne in my perfumery I would have to contact Yves St. Laurent. Gianni said “I will call Mr. St. Laurent and tell him that you would be calling him” and to wait 15 minutes to call. He provided me with the telephone number. I did as he said and I spoke with Yves St. Laurent and I explained my predicament and I would like to carry my cousin’s fragrance in my perfumery and what can I do. He said that it would be a simple measure and he would call his distributor and make sure that I received an order for the cologne. A few days later I received a large order for Gianni Versace’s cologne. The only dilemma was that I was not provided with an invoice. I reordered the cologne several times without an invoice and I called the distributor to ask him to send me an invoice. I called Yves St. Laurent and told him that I would like to pay for the orders. He told me “All you Versace’s are crazy. I am giving you a free product and you complain”. After the fifth order I began to pay for the product. In 1988 I went to Paris to a perfume maker and we went through the entire process of selecting a fragrance that suited my taste. After all the expense of travelling back and forth to Paris with this fragrance, I was told that his company was too busy to make the perfume for me. In reality, they were not too busy but were told through their distributors that if any Versace product was produced out of that company, they would take their business elsewhere. It wasn’t until years later that I would start producing a cosmetic and perfume line that came out of South Korea.
In 1988 I was approached by the Paolo Gucci’s organization to work with their label. I was very excited to do so. While promoting my own name, I began producing product with the Paolo Gucci label. I did the designing, manufacturing and distributing for the Paolo Gucci label. I became the head of the Paolo Gucci label in the early 90’s, simultaneously with my own label.
In the early 90’s we began to trademark the Alfredo Versace name throughout the world. We were producing Alfredo Versace sportswear and women’s garments for both labels and doing very well. In 1994 we started producing cosmetics, perfumes and men’s colognes with the Alfredo Versace label under the South Korean cosmetic company called Bebeco. Our first year out, after designing the entire line which consisted of 181 products, we made gross sales of 10 million dollars. The second year we did 15 million dollars in gross sales and I opened up 16 Alfredo Versace clothing stores throughout South Korea. Additionally we were doing designs and production for one of the largest companies in Japan called Sui Kim Buson. We produced up to 50, 000 garments a month between South Korea, Japan and into China. By that time we had 49 trademark applications in place worldwide. That same year I started a tobacco company because I was a cigar smoker. I produced tobacco products. My first sale went to Macao with a 36 million dollar contract, half of which would come back to me. From China we went to Germany and Russia where the tobacco products were doing extremely well.
In 1995 we began producing sneakers under the Paolo Gucci label and the Alfredo Versace label. We sold to Foot Locker which was our main distributor. We had over 200 customers throughout the United States. 1n 1996 we started selling our products worldwide. In 1997 I received a call from Gianni Versace stating that Donatella Versace was very upset and that while walking through her South Florida neighborhood she noticed a Footlocker store with the Alfredo Versace sneakers in the window. He asked me to come down to Florida and discuss our further business enterprises. At that time I explained to Gianni that I could not come to Florida because I was going to Germany to purchase a factory that was closed but had the machinery to produce cigarettes. At that time Gianni was opening his flagship store on Fifth Avenue and I asked him if we could meet in New York when I returned from Germany. He said we would talk when I returned from my business trip. Unfortunately, he was murdered in July and we never spoke. Over the years Gianni Versace and I respectfully coexisted. In the event that someone tried to use the Versace name, we would join forces to protect the Versace label. At one time one of our cousin’s in Australia was trying to start a cosmetic company under the name of Nicole Versace. While Nicole Versace was trying to obtain a trademark in Japan, Gianni and I instructed the attorneys that while Gianni and I were cousins, Nicole was not a relative and should be denied a trademark. Not many years later when my father’s cousin from Australia showed up in New York City and I met her, she asked why I denied her granddaughter the right to use the Versace name, since we all came from the same town. These are the same people that today have a trademark to produce wine in Australia under the Versace label. I apologized to her and stated that I didn’t know we had cousins in Australia. Gianni Versace always considered me his cousin. Gianni knew that I was the first one to use the Versace name back in 1962, AV Versace, Alfredo Versace and Versace Boutique and trademarks for the entire world. After his death, things changed and we got sued worldwide and the lawsuit lasted from 1997 to 2010. Up to this time, the Versace name is in decline. Today we are in production under the Alfredo V. label. We are making high end pocketbooks made of alligator, ostrich, python and stingray as well as wallets and checkbook covers. For men, we are producing suits, sportswear and wallets, belts and toiletry cases from the same skins as the pocketbooks.
Rogelio E. Rodriguez Jr. is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer at Rizen Inbound. Having begun in the business world using traditional SEO methods, Rogelio was amazed at the growth his company experienced after switching to an inbound philosophy. He describes his own growth in this area as “transformative” to how he approaches relationships with both his clients and co-workers.
He has led Rizen to become a Platinum Tier Hubspot Certified Partner, with international clients from small startups to influential corporate entities. As a Hubspot Certified Trainer continues to spread the inbound gospel to an ever-growing circle of friends and connections in the business world and even takes time to teach at the Miami Ad School Punta Cana.
Chenelle Miller also known as C-Slim, is a powerful bomb threat waiting to explode. She is a charismatic and artistic being. She is brave, beautiful, and laughs at challenges as she tries to perfect her heart as if she’s the only one in competition with herself. She is an R&B singer/songwriter who believes in hard work and sacrifices. What inspires her to do music is the joy that it brings to her soul when everything seems to be falling apart. She enjoys being able to play with her sound and give off different vibes of beautiful energy like some of her artistic influences such as Lauryn Hill, Beyonce, India Arie, Mary J Blige, Tyrese, Brandy, Stevie Wonder, and the list goes on. As you can probably guess she’s a 90s baby. Born on April 14th, 1990 in Fort Lauderdale Florida.
In addition to her inspiration and what keeps her going are her three young prodigies and the fact that her heart is still pumping so she feels that she must be here for a reason. When C-Slim began her music career in 2011-2012, she faced a lot of obstacles because she thought that people were on her team but instead realized she was being used for her talents and robbed of her financial contributions. Nevertheless, she stayed strong. What makes C-Slim stand out as an artist is an energy and passion she gives when she’s on stage or behind the mic and the fact that she wants her audience and fans to know that she’s a real person. And she makes it hard to look away because she is very colorful in her art, from what she wears to what note she’ll hit next. She was introduced to music at a very young age but has been singing all her life.
She’s performed at local talent shows, clubs, school plays she’s recorded in studios, and weddings. All this was merely practice for her big debut to open up for hip hop sensation Ball Greezy. She’s currently looking forward to collaborating with other artists in the music industry like her influences and others such as Jhene Aiko, Drake, and Fantasia. All in all, music is her life and will always be apart of C-Slim.
With over 25 years of marketing experience, Zane Carson Carruth is the founder and president of Carson Marketing, LLC, a full-service marketing firm offering integrated business solutions to small and midsize businesses.
Zane is also a certified business protocol and etiquette specialist. She has etiquette articles published in numerous high-end regional magazines. Zane understands having great social etiquette can provide people with the tools needed to navigate unfamiliar territory. Due to this belief, she offers business etiquette classes to non-profits who work with underprivileged women and men.
In addition to writing etiquette articles, she writes children’s books as well. Zane has published two books and a coloring book in her award-winning trademarked series, The World’s First Tooth Fairy…Ever. Her third book, Abella Starts A Tooth Fairy School will be published in the fall of 2020.
Zane is proud to call Houston home and generously gives of her time and resources to ensure Houston stays one of the top cities in the nation. She has done an incredible job of fundraising for causes that are near and dear to her heart.
Music as I can remember from the age of 3 years old, has always been a very important part of my life. As an artist, I am always in search of an escape or a place of eternal comfort where I can be as free as the wind. When I am composing music, I’ll sit back in my studio chair, close my eyes, and summon imagery or a moment in time that I can creatively morph into. Thus, making that experience a very most impressionistic one to be felt kinesthetically through the arrangement of major and minor chord progression; major chords for a much brighter effect or minor chords which are usually a much darker and mystical vibe conveyed to the audience.
My approach to the rhythm accompaniment within the composition is to present a natural and uplifting feel that can sway anybody to connecting with me. I hear my fans saying to themselves,”JONva’s music, makes me feel his music to the depth of my soul”. I know then, I’m connecting with fans, giving them a very nostalgic moment that they just can’t get enough of. When my fans are digging the music, I know I’m being authentic with a bit of surrealism. In the studio I have a simple goal, “it’s get the music right and make it tight”.
Working on music always reminds me of the audience’s needs as a consumer, and what they’re expecting to hear; nothing more than my music that can make them lose themselves for a moment in time. I find that it’s not necessary to choose sounds, patterns in creating music or being locked down to rules. I want my fans to say, he’s totally a universal ambassador with an international language known as music that speaks to everyone around the world with a simple melody for all to enjoy.
Zainab (“Z”) Fisher, originally from Sierra Leone, West Africa. Zainab came to the United States as a young girl and lived in Boston where she met her husband Tom Fisher. Nearly 15 years ago, Tom was diagnosed with stage IV cancer. After Tom’s experience with stage IV cancer, it unexpectedly led both of them on a healing journey. In the beginning, it wasn’t easy, because they ate animal protein and their bodies went through a detox period. As a result, Zainab has seen firsthand, the healing and health effects of a plant-based diet.
As a child, Zainab’s grandparents introduced her to the kitchen and how to cook. They made Lebanese and African food. This got her interested in food at an early age. Zainab used to work in hospitals, helping people, but she knew her passion was food and helping people with optimal nutrition for optimal health. Before she changed her diet, she was overweight, had digestive problems, skin issues, and had low energy. After adopting a plant-based (vegan) diet her digestion improved greatly. The unneeded weight melted off her body. Her skin became clear and vibrant. Her energy became much more abundant.
Zainab is a self-taught, professional vegan chef and speaker. She was a guest chef for Fox 29 WFLXD. Her passion is to teach people about the healthy lifestyle that she has adopted into her own life. She helps to inspire people to take charge of their health by adopting a plant-based diet. Many of her clients are people with cancer and are using nutrition to help heal themselves. She has worked with and helped people from all walks of life: from celebrities and billionaires to everyday citizens, all trying to make positive health changes in their lives. Zainab’s dream and goal is to have her own healthy cooking (vegan) show on television and to write cookbooks.
Angela is no stranger to the Talent, Model, and Entertainment industry. Having studied music from age five, she is an accomplished Singer, Dancer and Model. Angela took part in the Readers Digest European tour and was named “Female Vocalist of the Year”. Angela started her Dance instructions with Jan La Winter Cultural Arts Center, where she studied ballet and dance. She later went on to join the Carol Naso Dance Troupe, who was also the Dance Coordinator for the Miss America Contestants. Under Carol Naso’s guidance, she furthered her studies in Tap, Jazz and Musical Comedy.
In regard to her Vocal studies, Angela studied with the Troast Musical Studio, Ms. Ruth Hand (founder of the New York Light Opera Company), Ms. Allyson Starr (Television and Stage Personality) and took courses at Seton Hall’s Music Department. Angela’s appearances include The Jerry Lewis Telethon, Holland America Cruise Lines, The Princess Lounge at Donald Trump’s Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey, and also toured with Jonathan’s Big Band performing “Phantom of the Opera”. Angela’s Pageant titles include Mrs. New Jersey Globe 1996 and Ms. Morganville New Jersey US of 1997.
Angela has been part of the Pageant scene for over 25 years. She started singing for pageants, then went on to being the MC for many Pageants and then a director for the Mrs. Globe Pageant for five years before starting her own in 2003 with the introduction of Ms. Latina International. Her newest addition, Ms. International World in 2010 has truly expanded the Ms. International name.
Maria is a first-generation American, raised in Virginia. As a teenager, she was placed in modeling classes and booked nationwide fashion shows, pageants, and was even a debutante. Maria studied Greek language and dance, performing live at festivals. By the time Maria reached her twenties, she earned degrees in the beauty industry as a licensed Esthetician and Cosmetologist.
Having moved to Miami in the ’90s, she worked as a professional make-up artist and spokesmodel for a variety of products, starting with cosmetics in infomercials and then expanding to nationwide commercials with budgets of over $20 million in yearly marketing campaigns. She has vast experience with live audience sales, on-camera promotions to modeling for ad campaigns.
Some of the companies that she has represented in the last 20 years include KODAK, CHAMPION SPORTSWEAR, KORRES, and RELAXIUM, to name a few. Maria has also been featured on Channels such as A&E on their documentary segments, LIFETIME on “the perfect wedding story’ in addition to many infomercials.
She has a look that resonates with many ethnicities, natural poise, well-spoken with ease in front of an audience that is proven to make sales skyrocket.
Bimal Shah is on a mission to deliver breakthroughs to entrepreneurs by reaching their three-year goal in one year through customized systems of coaching, planning, & accountability that provide Security from Enemies of Prosperity. Rajparth Achievers, LLC. is founded on three platforms: Thrive, Transform, and Transcend.
Bimal’s story began when he came to the United States 20 years ago from Bombay, India …though coming from an affluent family, he worked five jobs to pay his own out of state tuition, graduated from UF with decent savings, chose to start his own business instead of accepting offered jobs, and has been a thriving entrepreneur ever since.
During more than 16 years in the Business, he has helped make a difference in the lives of more than 1000 families & businesses to preserve their assets, increase their income and reduce their taxes.
He is a lifetime member of Million Dollar Round Table®, MDRT. And also a member of Top of the Table®. It is one of the highest levels of recognition in the financial services industry. He has been awarded the Global Corporate Award in 2014 for being one of the best in the life insurance category. Recognized in Who’s Who, as well.
Rajparth Group has been named as one of the Best Small Businesses in Boca Raton in the Investment Category. He has been a Recipient of the National Ethics Award. He is a recognized speaker with presentations at several professional business associations, conferences,
& meetings.
Bimal has also done several speaking engagements with organizations such as NPI, BNI, The Millionaires Group, Health Care Round Table, SFHHA, SFTA.
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania native Erica Pullen has made it her mission to encourage children to never give up on their dreams, despite obstacles in life with her debut books, Believing in Myself & I am America’s Most Wanted. Inspiring and thought-provoking, Erica’s books are read in classrooms nationwide as well as International. Before becoming a full-time author, Erica was a former Chief of Staff for the Maryland Department of Social Services, as well as a highly sought after early-education consultant. She has a B.A. from Carlow University and an M.P.A. from the University of Phoenix.
Erica’s award-winning books have received wide media attention. She has been featured in the Pittsburgh Courier, Columbia, MD Patch, Red Posh Magazine, Vital Magazine, and VEU Magazine just to name a few. Ms. Pullen is in demand as a local and national conference keynote speaker however loves to speak with children of all ages in public schools.
Today, Erica lives in Severn, Maryland with her husband and children. When Erica is not writing or visiting schools, she can be found working on her Children’s Show, “Kudos for Kids,” sponsored by Hindsight Media Radio, 103.5 FM, or on her t-shirt line and other products along with helping other authors publish their books through her publishing company (W.E. Publishing Company, LLC). Erica also volunteers and mentors’ young women, who are trying to change the trajectory of their lives.
Hello, my name is Sylvester Britton. Stage name is Pookie F Baby. I’m a stand-up comedian from Miami,fl. Been doing comedy since 2006, I travel the country doing comedy shows.
Facebook:Sylvester joe Britton
Ig:pookiefbaby22
YouTube:pookiefbaby22
Snapchat:pookiefbaby22
The word “innovation” is derived from the Latin verb innovare, which means to renew. Using the tech tools both today and tomorrow, dreamers across the globe are applying digital solutions to age-old problems. We want to help you tell your story.
Society’s current problems depend on the next big solution, and entrepreneurs are the builders of these next big ideas. dreamOway’s top candidates can clearly illustrate how their product or service takes an issue that matters and presents a way to improve it.
To become a model, it takes discipline, effort, and perseverance. They bring movement and vision to the fashion ideas we love.
Using a range of tools to combine color, shapes. And depth, artists create visual beauty in material form. With a stroke of the brush, chip of the chisel, or swipe on a tablet, our dreamers bring awe-inspiring images to life.
Those who seek to change the world are the heroes we always need in society. We love to see examples of people lifting others up and making the world around us continually better.
When people look good, they feel good! Beauty artists know how to use colors, shades, and patterns to create amazing looks that change how a person views themselves. We look for people who can do just that.
People love sports because struggle and triumph make for great stories. We love to see athletes who use their physical abilities to take their sports to the next level and change the status quo.
Stories rely on storytellers, and performance artists bring imaginary worlds to life using themselves as vessels. We love examples of those who take us to new places and experience new conversations through their ability to tell an amazing narrative.
Music reflects all the emotions we feel during the human journey, and dreamOway looks for artists who take sound and make an irresistible urge to feel something unique.
Stories rely on storytellers, and performance artists bring imaginary worlds to life using themselves as vessels. We love examples of those who take us to new places and experience new conversations through their ability to tell an amazing narrative.
Food and drink are the visual examples of what makes us happy. Culinary artists know how to combine diverse ingredients to create dishes that comfort, enlighten, and satisfy. dreamOway looks for culinary experts who take unique paths in creating satisfying dishes.
Fashion designers design the looks that define our ideas, attitudes, and aspirations. Our judges look for creators and influencers who show clear ideas and voices through material garments.
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