Michigan Golfer News, February 11, 2011

February 11, 2011

Vol. 11, No. 6

Ben Davis In This Issue

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Michigan Golf Pioneer Ben Davis Turns 99 on February 19th

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Social Media Marketing - 4th in a Series By Thad Gutowski a.k.a The Cyber Geezer

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Michigan Golf News Welcomes Arcadia Bluffs as a New Sponsor

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Will You Be Our Valentine?

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West Michigan Golf Show by the Numbers

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Social Media Marketing - 5th in a Series By Thad Gutowski a.k.a The Cyber Geezer

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Minzey's Musings

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Golf Magazines - Michigan in the News

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Devine Thoughts

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Free Cutting-Edge Mobine App Debuts at Grand Traverse Resort & Spa

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Michigan Golfer Television Show Schedule for 2011

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Michigan Golfer - Winter Issue

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Michigan Golf Calendar

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Michigan Golfer Archives http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/archives.html

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Michigan Golf History http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/history.html

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Michigan Golf Association Links http://michigangolfer.com/mgn/associations.html

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Michigan Golf Hall of Fame http://tiny.cc/y6clk

Michigan Golfer Magazine 2010 -11 Winter Issue http://michigangolfer.com/win10-11/ Past Issues http://michigangolfer.com/#pastissues Michigan Golfer Television Michigan Golfer Channel http://michigangolfer.tv Michigan Golfer You Tube Channel http://www.youtube.com/my_videos?pi=0&ps=100&sf=added&sa=0&sq=golfer&dm=2 Michigan Golfer News Subscribe http://lyris.dundee.net/read/all_forums/subscribe?name=michigangolfnews Editor: Art McCafferty Associate Editor - Jennie McCafferty ================================================================ MICHIGAN GOLF PIONEER BEN DAVIS TURNS 99 ON FEBRUARY 19TH ================================================================ Forty five years ago, Ben Davis became the first African America to be admitted to the Michigan Professional Golfers Association. Davis was born February 19, 1912 in Pensacola, Florida. He was a talented golfer as a youth, however, there were few opportunities in 1920's Florida for AfricanAmericans in golf. His instructor golf pro Toney Penna encouraged him to leave Florida for better opportunities up North.

Davis moved to Detroit in 1925 and graduated from Northern High School. He began his professional golf career in 1936 at the Pine Crest Driving Range in Ferndale. He began teaching golf at Rackham Golf Course, in Huntington Woods, in 1952, where he would become a class A Head Professional. Ben taught golf there for over 50 years. He was also the Head Pro at Palmer Park Golf Course in Detroit for a number of years. Although he began teaching golf in Michigan in 1936, it would be 30 years before Davis would break the color line at the Michigan PGA. Ben Davis held the course record at Rackham for eight years, He was admitted to the Michigan PGA in 1966. He won the Michigan Senior PGA Championship in 1974 and the U.S. National Senior Tournament in 1979 in Las Vegas. He was inducted into the Michigan Golf Hall of Fame in 1992.

The Ben Davis Youth Golf Tournament was established in 2000 by the Detroit Recreation Department Over his expansive career his many students include boxing legend Joe Louis and Detroit Piston's Hall of Famer Bob Lanier.

Birthday greetings can be sent to Ben Davis c/o MedLodge of Southfiield, 26715 Greenfield Road, Suite 211, Southfield, MI. 48076 Additional information: "Benny Davis (Ben Davis)" on Facebook.

Taken from a release by Dorothy King *Editor's Note: Six year's ago, we had the opportunity to interview Ben at his residence. While his memory had begun to fade a bit, his story was riveting. Malcolm "Butch" Rhodes does the interview. http://michigangolfer.tv/2005shows/davis/index.html P. 2

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========================================================================== SOCIAL MEDIA MARKETING - 4th IN A SERIES - By Thad Gutowski a.k.a The Cyber Geezer ========================================================================== So you have spent some time looking at how your competition is using Facebook. In many cases it looks like a shopping network, and not a social network. So what else is new? This is how most dailyfee golf facilities use the Internet: to promote bargain-basement green fees. Who knows, maybe you will elect to do things different by taking better advantage of the incredible marketing opportunities provided by Facebook Fan Pages.

Your Fan Page offers another branding outpost on the Web, where present and prospective customers along with a host of others can find information about your facility and what you have to offer. Unlike personal Profiles which are member-only accessible, your Fan Pages are public by default. This simply means the user need not be logged into Facebook to view what you (and others) have posted on your site.

Being on Facebook offers a superb unintended consequence: driving traffic to your Website That’s because Facebook encourages you to link to your Home page. And you can complete the circle, by placing a link to your Facebook page on all of your website pages. To use a dated phrase, you have them coming and going.

But all the good stuff doesn’t end there.

Google now improves your Search Engine Optimization (SEO) by indexing Facebook Fan Page content.

This means anything posted on your Facebook page (good or bad) will appear when you are searched on Google. This is awesome!

Your Facebook Fan Page offers an exceptional no-cost opportunity to engaging with your users.

Customers and others can post on you Facebook Wall, share photos, video, ask and answer questions and interact with few limitations, which could be a bit scary.

A Facebook Fan Page gives you a direct pipeline to your fans, where you can target- market (my favorite term) in almost any conceivable way: age, gender, location, you name it.

Facebook presents an incredible opportunity to deepen your relationships with customers by connecting with them in a social setting, not a “selling “setting. With Facebook’s huge growth the past few months most people expect the businesses and organizations they deal with to have a Facebook Fan Page, along with a good website and timely informative Newsletters.

Don’t ignore this: surveys indicate t less than 25% of Facebook members will accept a sales pitch. But the vast majority is more apt to sing the praises of a quality experience to their Facebook Friends. Your key is to establish a strong positive relationship with the influential members, those who have tons of Facebook Friends, those who can serve as disciples selling your virtues.

All post updates to your Wall as well as your Fans interactions will appear in the Fan’s News Feed. This makes Facebook the ultimate opt-in and permission-based Internet marketing tool. The scope of this is really incredible.

In a very comfortable social setting like Facebook, customers and prospects are more likely to let their guard down and share information with you and others, about their experience at your facility, as well

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as the competition. This offers you a wealth of information which chances are you just won’t get in any other way.

Allow me to get right to the point.

Facebook offers you opportunities not available through any other media. But don’t wait. Jump in with both feet and establish a Facebook presence your competition will envy. Start by not using it as a dumping ground for low-ball green-fees.

At the risk of being redundant, Facebook does not replace anything. To do an effective job of marketing your facility, you need ‘em all: Website, Newsletters, and Email along with the latest, social media.

In closing, if you fail to believe social media is where communications are today, ask Hosni Mubarak.

Editors Note: The Cyber Geezer will be at the Michigan Golfer- GLSP booth #1348 at the West Michigan Golf Show in Grand Rapids this week-end. Stop and say Hello. =================================================================== MICHIGAN GOLF NEWS WELCOMES ARCADIA BLUFFS AS A NEW SPONSOR =================================================================== We want to thank the fine folks at Arcadia Bluffs http://www.arcadiabluffs.com for their sponsorship of this year's Michigan Golf News.

Chief Operating Officer William Shriver Director of Golf Greg Babinec Vice President of Operations Paul Emling Assistant Professional Zack Chapin Director of Food & Beverage Scott VerStrat Director of Lodge Operations Ashley Sholl ============================= WILL YOU BE OUR VALENTINE? ============================= You know you’re in love when you can’t fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.

Dr. Seuss ‘Get married early in the morning. That way, if it doesn’t work out, you haven’t wasted a whole day.’

Mickey Rooney ‘My boyfriend and I broke up. He wanted to get married and I didn’t want him to.’

Rita Rudner ‘The poor wish to be rich, the rich wish to be happy, the single wish to be married, and the married

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wish to be dead.’

Ann Landers ‘I married the first man I ever kissed. When I tell my children that, they just about throw up.’

Barbara Bush ‘Instead of getting married again, I’m going to find a woman I don’t like and give her a house.’

Groucho Marx SOURCE http://www.e-forwards.com/2010/07/golf-balls/ ============================================= WEST MICHIGAN GOLF SHOW BY THE NUMBERS ============================================= (Grand Rapids, Mich.) Golf is a game of numbers on a scorecard. It has par-3s, par-4s, and par-5s. It has 130-yard holes and 600-yard holes. It has 7200 yard championship tees and 5200 yardage forward tees. It has 9 and 18 holes and of course the famed 19th hole where memories of triple bogies are often 'washed away.' You get the picture: numbers are essential to the game of golf. And numbers are also essential and revealing about the 23rd West Michigan Golf Show on Feb. 11-13 at DeVos Place in downtown Grand Rapids. Let's count the ways: 105,000: There's 105,000 sq. ft of exhibit space devoted to the Golf Show at DeVos Place 23,000: The Golf Show uses 23,000 sq. feet of netting for the Indoor Par-3, the free golf lesson and demo club area.

12,000: 12,000 sq. feet of carpeting is laid down for the Golf Show.

9,000: In the past 10 years, 9000 golfers are estimated to have tried a shot at the popular Par-3 Challenge, sponsored again by Treetops Resort and fully landscaped by Everett's.

3,200: 3200 new Srixon golf balls will be given away at the Show for those purchasing tickets online or for the first 100 patrons at the Show each day. (3000 of them will be lost or drowned by July 4th) 2010: The 2010 PGA of America's Teacher of the Year is Golf Show headliner Todd Anderson, the first Michigan native to be so honored. Previous honorees include past Show headliners as Jim Flick, Hank Haney, Mike Bender, Mike Hebron, Charlie Sorrell, Gary Wiren, and Bill Strausbaugh.

100: The 100th Michigan Amateur Championship, conducted by Show sponsor the Golf Association of Michigan, will be held this June over famed The Heather course at Boyne Highlands Resort.

(Incidentally, the first Michigan Amateur was held in Grand Rapids in 1906 and won by James Wylie at Kent Country Club.)

500: 500 golf hats will be given away, evenly divided between Friday's Ladies Night and Sunday's Junior Day. (Hats off to the Show!)

92: 92% of show patrons said they enjoyed the show last year and plan to attend this year.* (The other 8% may have been non-golfers who admitted they took a wrong turn into DeVos Place.)

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25: Two of Michigan's finest resort courses-Treetops' Masterpiece course designed by Robert Trent Jones Sr. and Shanty Creek Resort's The Legend designed by Arnold Palmer-will celebrate 25 years of great golf this summer. At the Show, Shanty Creek is sponsoring Ladies Night on Friday.

77: 77% of show patrons purchased products at the show-from socks, sweaters and gloves to booked rounds, swing aids, putters, and drivers-and spent an average of $152.* (No worry, we won't tell spouses.)

76: 76% of show patrons are planning at least one golf vacation this year with 82% being in-state and 52% out of state destinations.* 63: Over 63 door prizes will be given away this year-- from rounds of golf to merchandise and equipment.

43: 43% of patrons say their average score for 18 holes is between 80-89.* (Not much of a slogan but how about: These golfers are decent!)

4 & 1: One (1) lucky golfer will earn a grand prize drawing for a foursome (4) winter getaway to Don Shula's Hotel & Golf Club in Miami Lakes, FL-air, golf and rooms! Courtesy of AirTran Airways, Florida Golf, and WZZM-TV. * 2010 Golf Show attendee survey and results Tickets will be available at the door as well as online at http://www.westmichigangolfshow.com.

Contacts: Carolyn Alt, ShowSpan & Terry Moore, Sportserv Ltd. ============================================================== MINZEY'S MUSINGS: WHY ATHLETES CAN NOT HAVE REGULAR JOBS ============================================================== New Orleans Saint RB George Rogers when asked about the upcoming season: "I want to rush for 1,000 or 1,500 yards, whichever comes first.."

And, upon hearing Joe Jacobi of the 'Skin's say: "I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl," Matt Millen of the Raiders said: "To win, I'd run over Joe's Mom, too."

Torrin Polk, University of Houston receiver, on his coach, John Jenkins: "He treat us like mens. He let us wear earrings.."

Football commentator and former player Joe Theismann: "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein."

Senior basketball player at the University of Pittsburgh : "I'm going to graduate on time, no matter how long it takes.."

Bill Peterson, a Florida State football coach: "You guys line up alphabetically by height.."

And, "You guys pair up in groups of three, and then line up in a circle."

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Boxing promoter Dan Duva on Mike Tyson going to prison: "Why would anyone expect him to come out smarter? He went to prison for three years, not Princeton ..."

Stu Grimson, Chicago Blackhawks left wing, explaining why he keeps a color photo of himself above his locker: "That's so when I forget how to spell my name, I can still find my clothes."

Lou Duva, veteran boxing trainer, on the Spartan training regimen of heavyweight Andrew Golota: "He's a guy who gets up at six o'clock in the morning, regardless of what time it is."

Chuck Nevitt , North Carolina State basketball player, explaining to Coach Jim Valvano why he appeared nervous at practice: "My sister's expecting a baby, and I don't know if I'm going to be an uncle or an aunt.

Shelby Metcalf, basketball coach at Texas A&M, recounting what he told a player who received four F's and one D: "Son, looks to me like you're spending too much time on one subject."

In the words of NC State great Charles Shackelford: "I can go to my left or right, I am amphibious." ========================================= GOLF MAGAZINES- MICHIGAN IN THE NEWS ========================================= GolfWorld - They had a terrific article on Debbie Massey, of Black Lake Golf Club, where she has worked since 1994. Massey won three events on the LPGA Tour, not including back-to-back victories in the Women's British Open, which is now one of the LPGA's major championships. She was LPGA rookie of the year in 1977 and finished her active career in 1995.

Golf Business- The late John Dodge, Toni Joers of Concord Hills GC and the management team of Fox Hills were all recognized for their contributions to golf at the annual NGCOA conference. ================== DEVINE THOUGHTS ================== Did you hear about the fat, alcoholic transvestite ? All he wanted to do was eat, drink and be Mary I’ve been charged with murder for killing a man with sandpaper. To be honest, I only intended to rough him up a bit.

After years of research, scientists have discovered what makes women happy. Nothing.

A lad comes home from school and excitedly tells his dad that he had a part in the school play and he was playing a man who had been married for 25 years. The dad says, “Never mind son, maybe next year you’ll get a speaking part.

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====================================================================== FREE CUTTING-EDGE MOBILE APP DEBUTS AT GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT & SPA ====================================================================== Grand Traverse Resort & Spa announced the launch of a new mobile website and free mobile app for iPhones and Android phones, designed to deliver unique services and special offers to hotel guests and visitors.

Guests can discover everything they need to know about the resort and conference destination by downloading the official Grand Traverse mobile app. This interactive concierge app offers menus, directions, weather, tickets, special offers, videos and more through hundreds of pages of dynamic content.

Available to download for free, the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa app, developed by MacroView Labs, allows guests instant access to real-time mobile reservations via email or direct dial. App users can explore the best of the resort in a few easy taps – they can make dining reservations at the hotel's Aerie restaurant, browse various room accommodations, or book time at Spa Grand Traverse. Users can learn about the Resort’s acclaimed golf courses, check on health club hours, kids activities, the Resort’s shops, or join Team Barefoot – the active lifestyle team of Grand Traverse.

Available globally and downloadable free of charge, the iPhone application is found in the Travel category of the iTunes App Store at http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/id415507382?mt=8 Icon Caption: GT Resort ======================================================== MICHIGAN GOLFER TELEVISION SHOW SCHEDULE FOR 2011 ======================================================== February The 18 Holes of Sandy Ridge GC West Michigan Golf Show March Michigan Golf Show Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill April Robert Trent Jones - The Masterpiece 25th Anniversary at Treetops MG at the Master's May Boyne Golf Academy at King Par June 100th Anniversary of the Michigan Amateur MGCOA Legislative Day July Boyne's Tournament of Champions The Monument GC at Boyne Butch Harmon Showcase U.S. Senior Open Treetops Cup Matches August The Beauty of LochenHeath GC

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=============================== MICHIGAN GOLFER WINTER SSUE http://michigangolfer.com/win10-11/ =============================== Table of Contents Top 10 Michigan Golf Stories of 2010 By. Jack Berry A Season to Remember: Calvin College Knights Capture 2010 MIAA Championship

By Chris Lewis Garland Golf

By Mike Duff Michigan High School Golf Roundup

By Kelly Hill Olympic Golf

By Brad and Bill Shelton A Year in Review, of Sorts

By Terry Moore Golf Rules

By Bill and Brad Shelton Top 10's & The Best Of Lists Michigan Golfer Television Viewed Shows Shaker and Movers in Michigan Golf Michigan Golf Course Videos Michigan Resorts in Golf Digest Listings Michigan Golf Courses in Golf Digest’s Top 100 Best Michigan Golf Courses You Can Play – Golf Magazine GolfWeek Listing of Top Michigan Resort Courses GolfWeek’ Top 10 Michigan Golf Courses SPONSORED BY: ARCADIA BLUFFS BOYNE GOLF ACADEMY @ KING PAR LOCHENHEATH GOLF CLUB SANDY RIDGE GOLF COURSE TREETOPS RESORT http://michigangolfer.com/win10-11/ ============================= 2011 MICHIGAN GOLF CALENDAR ============================= FEBRUARY 11-13 West Michgan Golf Show, Grand Rapids http://www.showspan.com/WMG/Home.aspx 18-20 Cleveland Golf Show, Cleveland http://www.northcoastgolfshows.com/ 25-27 Lansing Golf Show, Lansing http://michigangolfshow.com/lansing/

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25-27 Chicago Golf Show, Chicago http://www.chicagogolfshow.com/ 25-27 Indianapolis Golf Show, Indianapolis http://www.northcoastgolfshows.com/ MARCH 4-6 Michigan Golf Show, Novi http://michigangolfshow.com/ 10-13 World Golf Championships-Cadillac Championship TPC Blue Monster at Doral, Miami, Florida http://www.pgatour.com/h/schedule/ 17-20 Transitions Championship Innisbrook Resort - Copperhead, Palm Harbor, Florida http://www.pgatour.com/h/schedule/ 24-27 Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Orlando, Florida http://www.pgatour.com/h/schedule/ 26-27 The Mid Michigan Golf Show, Birch Run Expo Center, http://orvshows.com APRIL 07-10 Masters Tournament Augusta National GC, Augusta, Georgia http://masters.org 30 We're Open Invitational, Gaylord, MI http://treetops.com MAY 11 Fuller Cup, Country Club of Lansing http://michigan.pga.com 24-29 Senior PGA Valhalla Golf Club, Louisville, KY http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=17179869201 28-29MPGA Michigan Medal Play Championship - Fellows Creek Golf Course http://www.mipublinx.com/ JUNE 2-5 The Memorial Tournament, Dublin, OH 6-7 Nike Golf State Pro Am, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs 14-15 Club Car Michigan PGA Senior Open - Bedford Valley http://www.mipublinx.com/ 16-19 U.S. Open / Congressional Country Club / Bethesda, Md. http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=17179869201 20-26 LPGA Futures Tour - Island Resort Championship at Sweetgrass http://www.sweetgrassgolfclub.com 20 Pro-Pro Championship, The Legend at Shanty Creek, Bellaire 21-25 Michigan Amateur, Boyne Highlands, Boyne City http://gam.org/ 22 MGCOA Legislative Day on the Capitol Lawn http://mgcoa.com 27-29 Women's Open, Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville http://michigan.pga.com 27/7-2 U.S. Amateur Public Links / Bandon Dunes Golf Resort / Bandon, Ore http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=17179869201

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JULY 7-10 U.S. Women's Open / The Broadmoor (East Course) / Colorado Springs, Colo. http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=17179869201 8 - 10, Treetops Cup Matches, Gaylord, MI http://treetops.com 11-14 Michigan Open, The Orchards, Washington http://michigan.pga.com 13-14 20th GAM Women's Championship, Gull Lake CC http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=17179869201 14-17 British Open Royal St. George's Golf Club 18-23 U.S. Girls' Junior / Olympia Fields Country Club (South Course) / Olympia Fields, Ill. / http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=17179869201 21-24 Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational, Columbus, OH 25-27 Boyne Tournament of Champions, Boyne Mountain, MI http://boyne.com 25-26 Michigan Women' Amateur, Prestwick Village GC, Highland, MI http://gam.org 25-26 Senior PGA Championship, Charlevoix Golf & CC, Charlevoix http://michigan.pga.com 28-31 U.S. Senior Open / Inverness Club / Toledo, Ohio / http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=17179869201 29-30 Tournament of Champions, Pro Am - Boyne Mountain, Boyne Falls http://michigan.pga.com 29-31 Butch Harmon Showcase, The Loon Golf Course, Gaylord http://www.loongolfresort.com/ AUGUST 1-3 Boyne Tournament of Champions, Boyne Highlands, Harbor Springs http://michigan.pga.com 2-5 Junior PGA Championship. Sycamore Hills Golf Club, Fort Wayne, IN http://www.pga.com/pga-america/feature/sycamore-hills-gc-selected-host-2010-junior-pga-championship 8 Pro Assistant Championship, Treetops, Gaylord 11 MGCOA Summer Golf Outing http://mgcoa.org 11 Swinging for a Wish, Gaylord, MI http://treetops.com 8-14 U.S. Women's Amateur / Rhode Island Country Club / Barrington, R.I. http://www.usga.org/ChampsSchedule.aspx?taxid=17179869201 08-14 PGA Championship, Atlanta Athletic Club, Atlanta, GA 15--16 GAM Championship, Barton Hills CC, MI http://gam.org 17-18 13th GAM Women's Mid Am, Oak Pointe CC, Brighton, MI

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