iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 06/01/2026

Trump’s Venezuela stunt feels like the kind of “easy victory” thinking that turns into a long mess. Here's a classroom-safe lesson using LOC political cartoons on U.S. imperialism. Students compare the arguments to today. peterpappas.com/2026/01/the-... #EduSky #history #sschat

Color political cartoon from Judge titled "A Thing Well Begun Is Half Done." A caricature of President William McKinley stands on a map of North and Central America, using a shovel like a spade to dig a canal across the isthmus between the Atlantic and the Pacific. U.S.-flagged ships crowd both coasts, and American flags mark places like Cuba, Puerto Rico, and the Philippines. In the background, Uncle Sam stands near the U.S. Capitol carrying tools and a flag, implying Washington is backing the project as part of national expansion.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 21/07/2025

JFK: “Ask not what your country can do for you.” Trump: “Ask not to explain anything to me.” #Trump

Truth social post from [Donald J. Trump / @realDonaldTrump]
"The Wall Street Journal ran a typically untruthful story today by saying that Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, explained to me that firing Jerome "Too Late" Powell, the Worst Federal Reserve Chairman in History, would be bad for the Market. Nobody had to explain that to me. I know better than anybody what's good for the Market, and what's good for the U.S.A. If it weren't for me, the Market wouldn't be at Record Highs right now, it probably would have CRASHED! So, get your information CORRECT. People don't explain to me, l explain to them!"

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 17/07/2025

Portland wakes to a warm dawn, the horizon already hinting at the furnace that awaits

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Sunrise sizzle: Mt. Hood burns gold above Tilikum Crossing as Portland wakes to a warm dawn, the horizon already hinting at the furnace waiting in the afternoon.

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Warm predawn view from Southwest Portland: Mt. Hood’s shadowed peak stands against a fiery orange sky, layered hills fade toward the horizon, and the cable-stayed Tilikum Crossing glows with bridge lights above the Willamette River, framed by illuminated South Waterfront buildings—an early hint of the day’s coming heat.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 15/07/2025

AI took the coding jobs. The philosophers are just asking why. #AI #EduSky

Bar chart titled “Unemployment Rate of Recent Graduates showing lower unemployment rates for Philosophy and Art History Majors than Computer engineering or Computer Science

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 24/06/2025

"From 1910s 'Better Baby' fairs to MAGA's fertility crusade--discover how America's eugenic past still shapes today's immigration and family policies." forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/better-bab... #History #edusky #MAGA

Composite header: on the left, a black-and-white photo of a toddler in a diaper standing hands-on-hips; on the right, a vintage poster that reads "Better Baby Contest -- Indiana State Fair, Aug. 31 to Sept. 7." The pairing evokes early-20th-century baby competitions linked to the eugenics movement.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 30/03/2025

Somewhere in this setup is the illusion of productivity

Dual-monitor desk setup showing a March Madness basketball game on one screen and a Portland Thorns soccer match on the other, with Apple devices neatly arranged—everything suggests productivity, but none is happening.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 15/03/2025

Good food, good friends.Looked up from my plate and found a masterpiece in the shadows. Cheers to the little moments. #SpontaneousArt #photography #abstract #art

A photograph capturing intersecting shadows of geometric patterns on a glass or reflective surface. The image features warm golden tones with crisp lines forming an abstract composition. Faint tree branches are also visible through the reflections, adding depth to the visual layering.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 10/02/2025

Norman Rockwell predicted Facebook groups, but the algorithm lived next door. #edusky #sschat #history

A Norman Rockwell illustration depicting a chain of people gossiping in a series of animated, expressive conversations. The sequence begins with a woman whispering into another woman's ear, and the message travels through multiple pairs of people, each reacting with increasing drama--some shocked, others laughing, some leaning in eagerly. The characters include men and women of various ages, dressed in mid-20th-century attire, with some talking on the telephone and others engaged in face-to-face conversations. The chain of gossip ultimately comes full circle, ending with a woman confronting another with an accusatory expression. The painting humorously captures the rapid spread of information (or misinformation) in a pre-digital world.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 28/01/2025

In the 1930s, 'talkies' replaced live theater orchestras, leaving musicians out of work. A bold campaign to save live music waged a creative war against 'canned sound.' Their fight resonates today as AI disrupts creative industries. The Day the Music Died: forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/the-day-th...

A 1930s Music Defense League advertisement titled "Making Musical Mince Meat!" depicts a robot feeding musical instruments into a grinder labeled "Canned Music Theatres." The grinder churns out mechanical sound effects ("Bing! Bang! Biff!") while a crowd of theatergoers watches. The imagery symbolizes the replacement of live orchestras with prerecorded soundtracks, a central theme of the campaign.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 27/01/2025

Meet my new AI assistant: gets it done without backtalk #AI

A beige sweater draped over a chair, positioned in front of a tablet on a desk, resembling a person working. The setup humorously suggests an AI assistant at work

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 19/01/2025

My lesson exploring how systemic inequality has shaped communities, using redlining maps and the 1940 Census. A powerful way for students to connect history with personal narratives and understand the impact of policy on people's lives. #edusky #history peterpappas.com/2020/11/mapp...

A historical black-and-white photograph showing four young Black children standing in front of a tall concrete wall in Detroit, Michigan. The wall, built in August 1941, was constructed to separate Black neighborhoods from a white housing development. A quote by John Vachon reads: ‘Negro children standing in front of half mile concrete wall, Detroit, Michigan. This wall was built in August 1941, to separate the Negro section from a white housing development going up on the other side.’ The image is part of a graphic titled ‘Designing Inequality: How Government Policies Segregated America’s Cities.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 08/01/2025

You know Currier & Ives for their picturesque winter scenes. But have you heard of their Darktown Comics? These wildly popular prints mocked Black ambition and sold white supremacy. My latest post dives into "The Cruelty of the Darktown Comics." forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/the-cruelt...

A Currier & Ives Darktown print titled "A Darktown Lawn Party" depicts a grotesque caricature of a social gathering. A well-dressed Black couple stands at a table under a bright red umbrella, exaggerated features mocking their attempt at sophistication. In the background, chaos unfolds: a bull charges through smoke, a woman struggles with a crying child, and others are depicted in clumsy or absurd poses. The scene ridicules Black leisure and social aspiration, reinforcing racist stereotypes common in 19th-century visual culture.

A Currier & Ives Darktown print titled "A Darktown Lawn Party: A Bully Time" depicts a chaotic and grotesque scene. A bull charges through the lawn, trampling over a well-dressed Black woman and tearing apart a red umbrella. Black figures with exaggerated features react in absurd, panicked ways—one climbs a tree, another falls backward, and others flee in disarray. The scene mocks Black leisure and social aspirations, portraying them as clumsy and incompetent, reinforcing racist stereotypes of the 19th century.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 07/01/2025

The Darktown Comics were 19th-century bestsellers, but their punchlines were anything but innocent. These prints mocked Black ambition to prop up white supremacy. Explore their chilling legacy in my latest post: "The Cruelty of the Darktown Comics" forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/the-cruelt...

A chaotic scene from a Currier & Ives Darktown print depicts a group of Black firefighters in exaggerated, grotesque caricature. The fire engine is spilling smoke as the firefighters fumble with their tasks: one sprays water ineffectively at a woman suspended on a pulley, while others carry babies or engage in slapstick mishaps. The exaggerated features and poses reinforce racist stereotypes, mocking the competence and humanity of Black individuals.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 30/12/2024

A 1913 cartoon, a New Year's toast, and a reflection on resilience. What history's lessons can teach us about today. forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/historys-t...

A vintage cartoon from _Puck_ magazine, published on December 31, 1913. It depicts Uncle Sam sitting in a cozy parlor, being offered two bottles by the symbolic figure of the New Year, portrayed as a young boy wearing a "1914" sash. The bottles are labeled "Hope" and "Fear," inviting Uncle Sam to make a choice. The scene is warmly lit by a decorative hanging lamp, and Uncle Sam appears pensive, considering his options. A discarded top hat lies on the floor beside him.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 24/12/2024

Running out of last-minute gift ideas? How about the perfect stocking stuffer: a sunburn in December! That durable 35-cent clip-on holder is perfect. Nothing says Merry Christmas like a surprise scorching. #vintage #advertising #Christmas

A vintage 1950s advertisement for the Westinghouse Sun Lamp featuring the tagline "Give a June tan for Christmas." The ad shows a glamorous couple with glowing tans alongside a pale, envious couple. The lamp is marketed as a source of "Vitamin D" for achieving a healthy summer tan in winter. The ad highlights its affordability at $8.50 and the optional 35-cent clip-on holder. Smaller images showcase women using the lamp for beauty routines, with claims of safety and endorsement by the American Medical Association. A festive ribbon and holly design emphasize its appeal as a holiday gift

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 21/12/2024

Mt Hood sunset before the longest night of the year. #PDX #photography #sunset #mountains

Mt Hood in the setting sun. City scape in foreground

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 16/12/2024

In 2060, she’s still out of your league. The league just got taller.

A vintage 1954 science fiction magazine cover titled “If Worlds of Science Fiction.” The cover features a timeline showing the evolution of men and women from 1960 to 2060 AD. As the years progress, the women grow significantly taller and more glamorous, while the men shrink and appear scrawnier. By 2060 AD, a towering blonde woman in a white swimsuit stands next to a short, bespectacled man in black swim trunks, highlighting an exaggerated contrast.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 25/11/2024

Austrian Airlines announced its departure from X in epic fashion. Now they need to get on BlueSky

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

A century ago, Louis Hine's photography helped spark outrage against child labor, leading to landmark protections. Today, those hard-won protections are under attack. Read how Project2025 is rolling back child labor laws. forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/exploiting...

This is an image of a young boy, likely a coal miner or working in a related industrial setting, judging by his attire, soot-covered face, and the headlamp on his cap. The photograph appears to be from the early 20th century, likely part of Lewis Hine's documentation of child labor during the Progressive Era in the United States. Hine's work was instrumental in raising awareness of child labor conditions and advocating for reforms.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 14/11/2024

My fave lesson: "Mapping Inequality: Exploring Personal History in Redline Maps and the 1940 Census” #edusky #redlining #history peterpappas.com/2020/11/mapp...

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 12/11/2024

Sometimes, history’s best lessons are in pictures. Political cartoons from the Gilded Age expose the hidden cost of tariffs—higher prices for families, while monopolies thrived. Could Trump's tariffs bring back this story? forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/the-hidden...

A vintage political cartoon shows a bottle labeled ‘Tariff Revision’ being poured by a hand labeled ‘Republican Party.’ The liquid flows into a full glass labeled ‘Protected Interests,’ while a smaller, empty glass labeled ‘Consumer’ sits below, untouched. The caption reads, ‘Here’s How!,’ suggesting that tariff policies benefit powerful interests while leaving consumers with nothing.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 10/11/2024

When ‘Amish’ and ‘Stud’ collide, you know it’s gonna be a hot tale of love, beards, and buggies. #CantLookAway

Promotional image for the Lifetime movie Amish Stud: The Eli Weaver Story. A bearded man in traditional Amish attire and a solemn expression stands in the foreground, while a serious-looking woman stares into the distance behind him. The image promotes a TV14-rated drama and crime movie from 2023, starring Luke Macfarlane, Kirsten Vangsness, and Miranda MacDougall

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 20/08/2024

Owning a fallout shelter was the ultimate status symbol in the ’60s—if you could afford it. Explore the class divides and absurdity of the fallout shelter craze. Spoiler: It wasn’t the cozy hideaway you might think. forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/dooms…

A black and white illustration of a 1960s fallout shelter. The shelter is an underground, steel-clad room equipped with basic survival essentials. Inside, a family of four sits on benches. The room is labeled with various components, including an air filter, air exhaust pump, periscope, plumbing, emergency oxygen, a Geiger counter, food and water supplies, batteries, and a radio. Above ground, a destroyed structure and burning debris are faintly visible, indicating the devastation outside. The scene highlights the stark, confined conditions of Cold War-era fallout shelters.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 15/08/2024

The "White Citizens’ Councils" justified segregation as ‘protecting Southern traditions.’ Dive into the twisted logic of ‘respectable’ bigotry. Here's some racist lessons designed for children. See more on the Councils in my latest post "Respectable Hate" forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/respectabl...

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 13/08/2024

The White Citizens’ Councils: Racism in a Three-Piece Suit: They didn’t wear hoods, but their mission was the same—keep the South segregated. Discover how the White Citizens’ Councils used respectability to disguise their racist agenda. forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/respectabl...

A 1957 cartoon from The Citizens’ Council titled “Bedtime Stories, 1957” shows two young white children watching television in a living room. On the TV screen, a Black woman in a strapless dress and a white man in a tuxedo are shown arm-in-arm, smiling and waving. The children appear shocked and horrified by what they see. The cartoon is an example of racist propaganda, meant to instill fear of interracial relationships and integration. The image is labeled “Citizens’ Council, Jackson, Miss.”

A vintage cartoon from The Citizens’ Council shows two white women conversing over a fence. One woman, holding a basket of laundry, says to the other, “My husband and I have joined our Citizens’ Council, have you all?” The cartoon promotes membership in the Citizens’ Council, a segregationist organization, and reflects the social pressure to join and support the group’s racist agenda. The image is labeled “Citizens’ Council, Jackson, Miss.”

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 30/07/2024

How does an 1888 map of America reveal the roots of today's political divisions? Dive into our latest analysis and uncover the historical parallels forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/roots…

"Detail of an 1888 map showing the Southern United States, labeled 'God's Curse Slavery.' The map highlights regions with annotations such as 'Murder,' 'Rebellion,' 'Treason,' and 'Secession' along with lines marking significant historical events and laws like the 'Missouri Compromise,' 'Fugitive Slave Law,' and 'Kansas-Nebraska Bill.' The Mason-Dixon line is also marked. The image symbolizes the association of slavery with moral and social evils, depicted through a tree originating in the South and labeled with various forms of wrongdoing."

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 17/07/2024

Phrenology once captivated minds with its promise to reveal character through skull bumps. My latest article explores this pseudoscience's fascinating history and its troubling ties to Social Darwinism and racism. forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/skull…

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 18/06/2024

How close did we come to losing Niagara Falls to industrialization? Discover the untold story of the 1906 dispute and Roosevelt’s intervention in “From Roar to Whimper.” forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/from-…

A colorful cartoon detail from Puck Magazine depicts a satirical scene at Niagara Falls. The illustration features a "Suicide Tank" where a man is seen diving headfirst into a large tank, a merry-go-round labeled "The Whirlpool" with people riding various animals, and a "Fish Pond" where people are fishing. The cartoon humorously critiques the commercialization and industrialization of Niagara Falls.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 13/06/2024

Meet Joe Dope, the comic character who kept the Army running. WWII training comics created by Will Eisner - the father of graphic novels. forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/joe-d…

A World War II-era comic poster featuring Joe Dope, a cartoon soldier created by Will Eisner, driving a military jeep recklessly over a rock-studded road. The text reads: "To prove that he's game as the fliers, whose daring the public admires, Joe Dope hurls his loads over rock-studded roads—And boy! is it tough on the tires!" The poster advises, "Don't be a dope! Handle equipment right!" The artwork is in shades of red and gray, with Joe Dope depicted in an exaggerated, humorous style.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 29/05/2024

In the annals of advertising history, few campaigns are as bizarrely fascinating as: “For digestion’s sake, smoke Camels.” Cigarettes’ Unlikely Health Crusade forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/when-smoki... #history #advertising #smoking #cigarettes

This advertisement features Fred McDaniel, a Texas cow puncher, who extols the virtues of smoking Camels after a long day of riding herd. The rustic imagery and McDaniel’s hearty endorsement suggest that Camel cigarettes were not only for the city sophisticate but also for the hardworking, salt-of-the-earth American.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 28/05/2024

“My cargo bike called—said it doesn’t need to compensate for anything.” @ternbicycles.bsky.social

Tern HSD ebike (long tail cargo). Parked next to a Tesla Cybertruck

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 11/05/2024

NorthernLights over downtown PDX last night. I have enhanced image - but those were the colors / patterns that were there.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 30/04/2024

The Rise and Fall of America’s First Mail-Order Religion forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/miracles-b...

Portion of poster showing large "mushroom cloud" with words "Thank God for the Atomic Bomb".

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 16/04/2024

My latest post on Substack features a bustling drugstore scene with a pharmacist doling out an array of remedies to a desperate crowd - including Opium, Cocaine, Strychnine. forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/cocaine-op...

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 09/04/2024

Selling the myth of the Lost Cause and the heroic Klan forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/marketing-...

Modified version of film release poster showing a large KKK character on horseback in a dominant pose and bold colors. Title of film with credits to Griffith and Dixon

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 02/04/2024

A Dog's Idea of the Ideal Country Estate: The Canine Cartography of John Held Jr forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/a-dogs-ide...

Portion of map showing title comical illustrations of people, objects and setting that dogs would love.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 20/03/2024

The Imperialists' Guide to Africa: British tips for carving up a continent. forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/the-imperi...

Cartoon showing a large globe with Africa prominent. Three huge men stereotyped as British, French and Russian each hold large bags labeled "Grab Bag" and they seem to be picking at the globe

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 12/03/2024

Who Is Filibus? Cinema's first gender-fluid, cross-dressing, steampunk, sky pirate, anti-hero. forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/who-is-fil... #history #histodons #cinema #film #retrofuturism

Two historical movie posters - one showing a woman being lowered from a steampunk airship and another showing tow thieves holding a drugged man in front of a statue to fool visual recognition program and steal the jewels.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 05/03/2024

Japanese manga map of the world satirizes political tensions and popular culture around the globe in the 1930s. Caricatures include Herbert Hoover, Al Capone, Babe Ruth, Jack Dempsey, Stalin, Mussolini, Hitler, Gandhi: "Manga, Satire, and Propaganda" forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/manga-sati...

Detail of map filled with many historical American across the USA.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 28/02/2024

With Christian Nationalism in the news - here's an artifact from Puritan America: "The God-fearing Map to Hell" forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/the-god-fe...

Detail of poster showing pitchfork-wielding demon forcing sinners into the fires of Hell.

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Peter Pappas @pappas.bsky.social · 21/02/2024

"Map of the Square and Stationary Earth" ~ A Masterpiece of Pseudoscience forgottenfiles.substack.com/p/when-the-e...

Detail of map showing cartoonish illustration of two struggling to stay on an orbiting earth.

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