iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 11/05/2025

This is all very distressing - and I don't even live there.

Facebook post from Feminist news sharing an X post, headed 'If journalists wrote about the US government the way they do foreign governments': Stan Oklobdzija writes, 'Masked security forces captured an opposition leader in the coastal province of New Jersey as regime officials continue their months-long crackdown against pro-democracy elements in the embattled United States. The arrest comes as the regime issued calls for summary detentions without trial.'

MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 17/04/2025

WARNING FB now removing comments critical of Cheeto, even when not using trigger words, and placing warnings on a/c posting them. Have a backup plan if you need to stay there. Second a/c, different email/name, friend yourself. Download your photos. #policestate

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 15/04/2025

That thing where your book gets a 5-star review from Reader Views. Woot! #booksofbluesky readerviews.com/.../down-to-... E-book: www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/... Paperback: www.amazon.com/Down.../dp/1.... #disability #DisabilityInclusion #sailing #specialeducation #specialeducationteacher #downsyndrome

Cover of Down to the Sea by Mike Belnap and Candy Lawrence, with Reader Views five star review sticker attached. The picture is a young man with surfboards on top of his Land Cruiser, silhouetted in sunset colours. Above is a picture of his wife with their child, who has Down syndrome, on a yacht, with the words 'Your baby is Mongoloid - you don't have to take him home.'

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 03/04/2025

Did you know I have a Patreon? The whole of April is about autism awareness, right? So I thought... I'll write about it. Today there's a FREE post about my autistic difficulties with communication. Find it here: www.patreon.com/posts/autist... #autism #communication #auditoryprocessing #masking

patreon.com

Autistic communication: an inside view | Candy Lawrence

Get more from Candy Lawrence on Patreon

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 02/04/2025

World Autism Awareness Day! Sharing a meme? Nice. Please do! But we really want inclusion *without demanding we hide who we are*. And understanding needs to start young. Bookshop link: www.monkeyread.me/shop/ 'Bodie Finch' e-book: amzn.asia/d/eyKMj0F Print book outside Aus: a.co/d/4jw8evH #booksky

Three book covers are shown under the heading 'Autism awareness made easier so even a child can get it'. Byline - Books help you explain.

Book 1, to show how some kids hide autism, is called Lilly's Mask. A red dragon roars over the head of a small Asian girl. Book 2, to help stop exploitation, is called I Won't, said Willow. A red-haired white girl stands defiantly, hand on hips. Book 3, autism behaviours explained, is called Being Friends with Bodie Finch. A blonde girl runs from a dark-haired boy who's throwing a chair at her. She looks scared.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 23/03/2025

Got young kids? Come visit my shop! www.monkeyread.me/shop/ amzn.asia/d/8SIKIha (e-book for under $10) My books speak to kids about their real life world. They love them and learn from them. #disability #autism #specialed #specialeducation #ECE #booksofbluesky #indieauthors #inclusion #kindy

Picture of dark-haired little boy in a blue and yellow outfit throwing a chair at a little blonde girl in a purple and white tutu. He looks angry, She looks scared. Text reads 'When Bodie Finch gets cross, he throws things. I get scared.' Header says Monkeyread.me Books. Footer says 'Real stories, about real children.'

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 22/03/2025

This book is simply A GOOD READ. E-book (affordable!) www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/... Hard copy books.google.com.au/books?id=Fcp.... #downsyndrome #downsyndromeawareness #specialed #specialeducation #books #BooksofBluesky #specialolympics #Tonga #teaching #ableism #sailing #goodreads #diversity

A book cover in shades of sunset colours showing a surfer and his boards on his car in silhouette. The title is 'Down to the Sea' by Mike Belnap and Candy Lawrence. Byline: 'Your baby is Mongoloid. You don't have to take him home. But we did...'

Around the book on a crumpled black background is more information. First time parents fight ableism and prejudice. Disabled baby goes sailing. Island life in Tonga - boy did we learn a lot! Life or death drama for Mum and Dad. Soecial Olympics for the #WIN. And so much more.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 16/03/2025

YEEHAW! My biography of Down Syndrome #winner Ty Belnap is here! Print book: books.google.com.au/books/about/... or e-book: www.kobo.com/au/en/ebook/... #booksky #books #readingcommunity #diversebooksky #readsky #downsyndrome #disability #writingandbooks #goodreads #sailing #education #specialed

Newspaper-style heading says Ableist Weekly, September 1978. Headline is 'Don't take that baby home' - Parents thumb nose at doctor's advice'. Text reads 'In a surprising turn of events at a local hospital, first time parents Mike and Nancy Belnap have ignored their doctor's advice to abandon their son Ty, who was born with Down Syndrome. Watch this space for more on how Ty went from reject to sporting champion!' The web address is www.monkeyread.me

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 12/03/2025

I'll just leave this here. Seems I've lost my appetite.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 07/03/2025

Hey brains trust, is Flashes available in Australia yet? Can't find it in the app store...

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 24/02/2025

The two party system is utterly screwed. Just hoping to god that Australians aren't as gullible as Americans, yanno... #funnynotfunny www.youtube.com/watch?v=1kYI...

youtube.com

Honest Government Ad | Our Last Fair Election?

YouTube video by thejuicemedia

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 23/02/2025

I thought I'd puppy-proofed my house until I put an actual puppy in it. Do not be fooled by the innocent expression. #dogsofbluesky #puppies

A 3 month old tan and black German Shepherd cross Border Collie pup stares at the camera sleepily while lying on a brindle cowskin.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 22/02/2025

This is a post from Fear and Loathing: Closer to the Edge, a brilliant FB site which I suggest you all follow and subscribe to. Brilliant writing and terrifying content. Apologies to those who next alt text, can't seem to work it out on a link, but click the post. www.facebook.com/FearAndLoath...

facebook.com

Fear and Loathing: Closer to the Edge

There is something rancid in America, a slow, creeping rot that smells like cold McDonald’s fries, aerosol hairspray, and the unmistakable musk of a country too sedated to recognize its own hostage...

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 17/02/2025

Apologies for the radio silence. Have been busy finding a new companion for my Ted - he's pining since we had to put down his playmate. How do you like this little lady? ♥️ Hoping to meet her very soon! #dogsofbluesky

Picture shows a tan and black puppy about three months old. She's a German Shepherd cross Border Collie but looks most like a Shepherd. She has a red collar on.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 05/02/2025

What is DEI? Here's the answer for those from outside the US who have passed it off as another weird US acronym that probs doesn't concern them. ie: If you are not a white rich male from their own country and of their own religion, they are officially scrapping any semblance of care about you.

If you oppose DEI you should have to use the full phrase instead of the letters. Be brave and say 'I oppose diversity, equity and inclusion'. Bonus points if you admit which part of that you don't like. Making it an acronym transforms it into a thought-terminating cliché. From now on, be proud of your opinions, but be specific. Let everyone know if it's diversity you don't like, or if it's equity, or if it's being inclusive.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

Even in Queensland, folks. Even in Queensland. It's not just the US. (Qld has just shut the door on hormone treatment for under-18s, which means voices will break, hair and genitals and breasts will grow, and more young people will end themselves as a result. Not cool, Qld. Sociopathic, Qld.)

Meme in pink, blue, white and grey, by 'have a gay day': First they came for the trans people, and I spoke out immediately even though I'm straight and cis because I've read the rest of the fucking poem.'

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 29/01/2025

I can't verify this as gospel, but the message is strong regardless. There are many ways to quietly disobey, America.

The text tells the story of a fighter plane crew in World War II who were hit by Nazi fire but the plane didn't explode; on examination, the shells were found to contain a note saying 'This is all we can do for you now'. A commenter notes that harm reduction is not pointless, and that the message's underlying thought is 'they are trying to make us kill you and we refuse'.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Remember, USA - tolerating intolerance allows intolerance to flourish. Don't let the w⚓s confuse you or call you a hypocrite.

From Wikipedia, shared by Fight the Patriarchy: The paradox of tolerance is a philosophical concept suggesting that if a society extends tolerance to those who are intolerant, it risks enabling the eventual dominance of intolerance, thereby undermining the very principle of tolerance. This paradox was articulated by philosopher Karl Popper in 'The Open Society and its Enemies' (1945), where he argued that a truly tolerant society must not tolerate those who promote intolerance. Popper posited that if intolerant ideologies are allowed unchecked expression, they could exploit open society values to erode or destroy tolerance itself through authoritarian or oppressive practices.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

Excellent article on how to find focus in the Age of Cheeto. Even from as far away as Australia I find it frightening and depressing, but the essence pf survival is to support the essential workers and cooperate only in subtle rebellion - not to whine, blame and tear each other apart.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 26/01/2025

As a writer who couldn't find her goddamned new story yesterday on her own computer, I feel this in my bones. I AM NOT HERE TO PLAY HIDE AND SEEK, FOLKS 😤

Cartoon meme of two men at the computer business centre. One is saying to the other, 'I do not want to save to onedrive. I want to save to the documents folder... on my computer... in my own house.'

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 23/01/2025

I have an unusual way of illustrating my children's books. A zillion little moving parts made of paper, all layered into a collage with natural materials. I've never done a cat before, so this is part of a prototype. At least it's distracted me from missing our dog... sigh.

Drawn and cut out cats compiled of many little parts, just black outlines on white paper. One cat has golden eyes.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 21/01/2025

Some bookseller somewhere is right on the money...

Bookstore bookshelf. A white book called 'Surrounded by Idiots' by Thomas Erikson is flanked by two copies of Elon Musk's biography.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 20/01/2025

Normal service will resume when I stop bursting into tears after having to put our dear old dog down at the weekend. Cancer really is an utter arse.

Picture of the head of OP's old black dog, wrapped in a white shroud and holding a small bouquet of rosemary, lavender and a single red rose between her paws. She's surrounded by red and purple hearts.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 16/01/2025

We're having big storms in eastern Australia. Lots of people are losing power, emptying freezers and fridges, trying to save or share food, wailing about when it'll be fixed... ...but we're on stand-alone solar. No power outages, ever. Don't let ANYONE tell you solar power is rubbish.

media.tenor.com

a man stands on a roof with solar panels

Alt: a man stands on a roof with solar panels as smile emojis rise around him

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 15/01/2025

It's hard when you feel like you've struggled all your life to make it a fairer, kinder world... ... and now <looks around> <throws up hands> 😱 Remember they *love* to divide and conquer. Don't squabble amongst yourselves.

Meme shows a small raccoon sitting sadly by the roadside. Text reads 'When you realize you don't want to be responsible for anything anymore and you just want to nap and be small'

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 14/01/2025

Word. It's so sad to watch this happen to you folks in the US five whole years after it happened to us in Australia. Wouldn't you think they'd learn and make changes? Wouldn't you think that actual EVENTS would convince the climate deniers? Nope.

Cartoon by Cathy Wilcox of The Age newspaper. In the background, LA homes and huge letters reading 'FACTS' are on fire. In the foreground, a family flees, saying 'I guess we'll never know what caused it'.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 10/01/2025

If the ADHD key position statement is 'It seemed like a good idea at the time' (discovered through living with a man with ADHD for 20+ years), ... what is the autism equivalent? I'm leaning towards 'I love the human race, it's people I can't stand', but that might just be me... 🤦‍♀️😆 #neurodivergent

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

#MAGA ? You don't make America great again ... ... by doubling down on all the things that made the rest of the world lose respect for you. Love, Australia (also full of stupid racist patriarchal shit; doesn't even *pretend* it's the greatest, yet still has better gun laws and health care) ♥️

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

I'm getting a lot of singularly opaque followers. No posts. No personal posts, only reposts. No personal posts besides pushing their business, often with insanely meddled-with photos. If you give nothing of yourself, or enhance yourself mask-like, or push, I don't follow back. #notmypeople

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Shamelessly stolen from FB. I may have snorted. (Also I can pretty much guess who will be the first to like this - in ten, nine, eight ...)

Post reads 'He doesn't look autistic.' 'My apologies. Luke, would you mind doing an autism for the lady please.' The subsequent comment is 'To everyone's horror, Luke then proceeded to name every train ever built.'

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 06/01/2025

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. 23/ This is the movie that made me realise my relationship wasn't just on life support - it'd already had its heart removed. (Though I doubt it was donated.) A wonderful mystery of trust, grief, deceit. #filmsky #filmchallenge #films

Movie poster for Lantana, starring Anthony LaPaglia, Geoffrey Rush, Barbara Hershey and Kerry Armstrong. Byline: Love is the greatest mystery. The picture is quite dark and shadowy; a blonde, toned woman in a sleeveless dress is dancing cheek to cheek with a dark-haired, stocky man in a suit, against a blue background with paler blue roots running through it and around the couple. The writing is pink.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 05/01/2025

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. 22/ I can only describe this movie as... majestical. 😆 A triumph of wit, grit and fabulous storytelling. The more you watch it, the more you feel the serious messages underlying the humour. #filmsky #filmchallenge #films

Movie poster of Hunt for the Wilderpeople; byline: Nature just got gangster. The quoted reviews describe it as infectious, pure genius, funny as hell, comic dynamite, wonderful. A stocky Maori boy in a leopard print baseball cap and red and taupe jacket stands with a bearded man in an Akubra in front of a snarling wild boar, against a scenic New Zealand backdrop.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 03/01/2025

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. 21/ This is just such a great story, beautifully realised. Injustice and revenge have never tasted so... um, sweet? 😆 #ifyouknowyouknow (You didn't really think I'd stop at 20, did you?) #filmsky #filmchallenge #films

Movie poster for The Help, byline: Change begins with a whisper. Purple writing on a yellow background. Two white women, one blonde, one brunette, sit on a park bench in pretty summer dresses - the one in pink stares straight ahead, elbows on knees, while the one in pink, green and white floral checks her nails. Next to them stand their two black female servants, in drab blue-grey uniforms with white aprons. They are whispering to one another.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 02/01/2025

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. 20/ Such a great story; another true one, and beautifully done. Grit, ugliness, family love, abuse, determination, grief, hope, culture lost and found - it's all there. #filmsky #filmchallenge #films

Movie poster for Lion, 'the true story of a life lost and found'. A young Indian child is photographed reaching for butterflies and smiling, while his older self behind him looks pensive against a backdrop of coastal Tasmania.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. 19/ If you love dogs, you need this film. Bring tissues. Apparently it's based on a true story, which makes it even sadder - but it's worth the tears to see the remarkable behaviour of this canine. #filmsky #filmchallenge #films

Movie poster for Red Dog, starring Josh Lucas and Rachael Taylor. Nyline: 'He's been everywhere, mate.' A red Kelpie is in the foreground with a happy expression, ears up, tongue out. In the background, a man and woman sit together on a motorbike, her in summer clothes, him in a flannelette shirt, on a remote outback road.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 01/01/2025

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. 18/ I know, I know, I keep banging on about what a great film adaptation this is. And casting!! Wow. Greta Scacchi is PERFECT. Harrison Ford is PERFECT. It's exactly how I saw the book in my head. #filmsky #filmchallenge #films

Movie poster of Presumed Innocent, starring Harrison Ford, Brian Dennehy, Raul Julia and Greta Scacchi. Ford's face is photographed staring pensively across to the right, while in the background you see him in the dark kissing Scacchi's cleavage as she throws her head back. Bylime: 'It's always dangerous to presume.'

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 31/12/2024

And a very happy New Year to all my followers. Yes you. The ones with your hands over your ears locking up your dogs before people start setting fire to their money to make things go ‘bang sparkle’. WHY EVEN

Picture of a person completely wrapped up in a fuzzy blanket huddled on a bed, caption: ‘So what are your plans for December 31st?’

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. 17/ No Australian can make a top film list without this slice of Aussie attitude and humour. This one's going straight to the pool room. (And every Aussie laughs when you say that.) #filmsky #filmchallenge #films

Movie poster for The Castle, with bright blue background and yellow lettering. Photo shows an Australian family of utter bogans standing by the letterbox in front of a suburban home, arms around each other - brown-haired Mum in a loud-patterned orange, yellow and purple sweater, blonde bouffant-haired daughter in flowered midriff top, jeans and sneakers, Dad in sweatshirt, jeans and ugg boots, the three boys in sheepskin-lined jackets, jeans, patterned shirt and sneakers.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. 16/ This resonated because Keating's the kind of teacher I've always tried to be - leading hearts, not filling faceless vessels. I had some great role models, from my mother to my own teachers. Lucky me. #filmsky #filmchallenge #films

Movie poster for Dead Poets' Society, starring Robin Williams. Byline: He was their inspiration. He made their lives extraordinary.' Williams is photographed in white shirt and striped tie, laughing with a group of boys who are wearing dark red sweaters, all against a background that might be golden trees at sunset or might be the woods on fire.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 29/12/2024

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. 15/ Another one that lurches from laughter to tears, and I'm including it not only because it incredibly entertaining, but because it made great poetry fashionable again ... for a moment. #stopalltheclocks #filmsky #filmchallenge #films

Movie poster for Four Weddings and a Funeral, starring Hugh Grant and Andie MacDowell. Photograph of people gathered around a coffin which is half-spread with a wedding feast, the priest at the left, an exuberant man in top hat and tails at the other throwing confetti in the air. In front of the table is a sheep.

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MonkeyRead.me Publishing @monkeyreadme.bsky.social · 27/12/2024

Choose 20 films that have stayed with you or influenced you. 14/ This movie contains the best depiction of menopause I've seen, brilliantly realised by Kathy Bates. And it's hilarious and tragic, all mixed up together. (Excellent body disposal method, too. 😆) #filmsky #filmchallenge #films

Movie poster of Fried Green Tomatoes, with Mary Stuart Masterson, Mary-Louise Parker, Kathy Bates and Jessica Tandy. A green tomato sits between two red tomatoes on a background of cloudy sky, with Bates and Tandy smiling and hugging below it.

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