Welcome Genealogy Tip of the Day Fans!
Grow your genealogy research skills with one of my how-to genealogy webinars. Presentations are clear, easy-to-follow, and focused on helping you with your research. Downloads are immediate and you can watch the presentation as many times as you wish. Enjoy!
Our current live offerings.
Getting More From Searching
FamilySearch
What's on FamilySearch is free, but navigating and refining search results is not always easy. In this presentation we will demonstrate how to construct searches, how to refine results, and how to determine if FamilySearch has online what you need and what you are looking for. See how to get more from FamilySearch and make better use of your online time spent there.
Order the "Getting More from FamilySearch" presentation here (media file and handout) for only $7. Download is immediate.
Using the Lutheran (ELCA) Records at
Ancestry.com
This presentation will provide an overview of
digital images of ELCA congregational church records on the Ancestry.com site.
Navigational and search techniques, limitations of available index, citation
issues, download, and use of images will be discussed. Learn how to get the
most out of this record set.
Getting More From Newspapers
There is more to newspaper searching than obituaries and marriage announcements. In this presentation, we will see how to see what newspapers are available, both digitally and on microfilm. We will look at effective search techniques for online newspapers, including search structures, keyword searching, and more. We will also discuss approaches for accessing newspapers that are not available online. Order an immediate download of this product.
Effective Census Search Strategies for Ancestry.com
There is more to searching the online census than simply putting a name in a box and clicking. We will look at effective use of wildcards, soundex options, location parameters, and more. Included will be a discussion of a general organizational strategy so that searchers spend less time "going in circles. This presentation is not sponsored or endorsed by Ancestry.com and Michael John Neill is not an Ancestry.com employee. Order an immediate download of this presentation.
Using Archive.org
Archive.org is a free resource containing digital scans of thousands of out of copyright books and thousands of rolls of microfilm (including all 1790-1930 United States Federal census records) Learn how to effectively search for specific materials, navigate the site and interact with uploaded items, and download items for personal offline use in a variety of formats. You will be using the site for days after you've seen what's available on this free site. Download the recording for only $8.
Using WorldCat
WorldCat contains an online library catalog for libraries across the entire United States and many foreign countries. Search thousands of library card catalogs in one interface. See effective ways to search for print, microfilmed, and manuscript materials on this site that contains millions of library catalog entries. Download the recording for only $8.
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Title and Description
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Other topics included
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Order
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Is Your Process
the Problem?
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Is your genealogical research process part of
your problem? We will look at ways to organize your search, your problems,
and your results in order to make the most effective use of your genealogical
and financial resources. Geared towards beginning and intermediate
researchers.
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Using the Bureau
of Land Management Site
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This presentation discusses search strategies
for the Bureau of Land Management website--which hosts a database of federal
land patent extracts and images. It will include a brief discussion of legal
land descriptions in federal land states before discussing the several ways
the site can be searched and queried. The presentation will conclude with
several specific examples and how the site was queried for additional
information.
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Navigating Fold3.com
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Frustrated with finding databases and people
on Fold3.com? This
presentation discusses search techniques for determining what Fold3.com has,
what it doesn't and how to search the entire site and specific databases for
individuals of interest.
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Organizing Online
Searches
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This webinar presents suggestions for how to
organize your online searches, including creating lists of search options,
creating search logs that assist in problem-solving, and tracking negative
results and eliminated matches to repeat viewing the same image over and
over. Organized searches makes it possible to accurately problem-solve and
allows others to provide constructive criticism. Also included is a
discussion of when it may be time to stop.
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Archive.org
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An overview of using Archive.org. This focuses on searching the site,
using books and how to navigate for National Archives microfilm and other
materials
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Digital books
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Brick Walls
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Brick
Walls from A to Z--This lecture is based upon my article "Brick Walls From
A to Z" and is geared towards the somewhat experienced beginner to
intermediate researcher. Just a list of ideas to get beyond your brick walls
discussed alphabetically.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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More Brick Walls from A to Z This
presentation is a continuation on the popular "Brick Walls from A to
Z" that was released earlier. The alphabet has been reused for
additional ideas and quick suggestions for getting past those brick
walls--aimed at all levels--with the intent of jumpstarting people's research
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$5.00 -add to cart
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"Yet More Brick Walls from A to Z" continues our popular series on this topic--with yet
another list of brick wall breakers--with discussion--from A to Z
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Brick
Walls From A to Z--FINAL one. Twenty-six new
genealogy stumbling block breakers in alphabetical order. This session is
geared towards advanced beginners and intermediate researchers and is not
geared towards any specific geographic location. The Brick Wall series has
been fun, but I'm looking forward to creating new material. And besides, I'm running out of things I can use for
"X."
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Case Studies
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Barbara's
Beaus and Gesche's Girls--Case study of two
German immigrants to the American Midwest in the mid-19th century. For $8.50
you will be able to download the media file and the PDF version of the
handout
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Preparing
for Mother's Death. It's not quite what you might think. This
presentation discusses an 1889 will that was denied in 1900 with no stated
reasons. An exhaustive search of records resulted in the likely reason and
made the machinations of one son a little easier to see and made the reasons
behind some documents a little more clear. Along the way we discuss
a few key terms and also see why chronology and context are always
important--especially so when things are confusing.
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Probate
Female ancestors
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Proving
Benjamin. This presentation discusses work on a New York 1820 era
native who appears in Michigan, Iowa, and Missouri census records. Combining
those records with a probate, we show inconsistent 1850, 1870 and 1880 census
entries are actually for the same man, and using land and tax
records (combined with census records) get a good foundation for researching
his family of origin
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Census
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The Newmans in
the 1830-1870 Census--A Case Study. This presentation
follows a family through the 1830 until the 1870 census. Discussion includes
correlation of information, search techniques and problem-solving for finding
the family in 1880.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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The
Missing 1840 Census Enumeration. This webinar discusses
a couple "missing" from the 1840 Census in Ohio and how they were
eventually found and the indirect evidence used. A good overview of using
land records to solve a "non-land record" problem with some points
along the way about organization and visualization. Suggestions for additional
research are also discussed.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Creating Families from Pre-1850 Census Records --This presentation discusses how to analyze pre-1850 census
records in order to determine the family structure that is suggested by those
records. Enumerations for one household between 1810 and 1840 are analyzed in
order to determine the number of children, ranges on their years of birth,
and ranges on years of birth for the oldest male and oldest female in the
household.
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Court Records
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Court
Records-Pig Blood in the Snow. This lecture
discusses American court records at the county level where cases were
typically originally heard. Discusses cases of main genealogical relevance
along with searching techniques.
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The Probate Process—An Overview. Geared towards the advanced beginner or intermediate
researcher, it covered an overview of the process and looked at selected
documents from two probate settlements with a discussion of the pitfalls to
watch out for along the way. Probate records are an excellent
genealogical source--regardless of the time period in which you are
researching and may contain clues about your ancestor, where he lived, his
occupation, etc.
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FamilySearch
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Tips and Tricks for FamilySearch -This
webinar discusses ins and outs of using the "new" family
search, searching by family structure, global searches,
interpreting searches and troubleshooting. Also discussed are strategies when
approaching an unindexed set of images, a new type of record
series, or incomplete records. Aimed at advanced beginners and intermediate
level researchers
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$8.50 order
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Females
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Female
Ancestors. This presentation discusses approaches and techniques for
determining an ancestor's maiden name and locating "missing"
females. Geared towards the advanced beginner or intermediate researcher, it
focuses on American records and sources. The content is not specific to any
one time period and many of the approaches can be refined for different
locations or types of records. If you are stymied on your female
ancestors--and half your ancestors are female--this may give you the insight
you need.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Sarah and Susannah-Two 18th Century Virginia
Women and Their Property -This
presentation discusses the will of a 18th century Virginia woman and how
another family "moved" a widow's life estate from one county to
another.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Proving
Florence--From our Fundamental Series--this 20 minute
presentation is geared towards beginners with some experience and intermediate
researchers as well. It discusses how the father was "proven" for a
woman who was born in the 1850s in Iowa or Missouri. There's not one source
that specifically states the relationship--our case is indirect
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Fold3.com
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Using
Fold3.com. Frustrated with finding databases and people on Fold3.com? This
presentation discusses search techniques for determining what Fold3.com has,
what it doesn't and how to search the entire site and specific databases for
individuals of interest. Download
complete presentation for $7
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Illinois
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Research in Illinois- -Geared towards advanced beginners and intermediate
researchers, it focuses on local records, what makes Illinois different,
and larger statewide facilities.
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Land
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Local
Land Records in Public Domain States--This lecture discusses
obtaining, using, and interpreting local land records in areas of the United
States from Ohio westward where land was originally in the public domain.
This lecture is geared towards those who have some experience with land
records--advanced beginning and intermediate researchers.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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The
Bureau of Land Management Office Tract Books. These
books are a good source for additional information on your homesteading or
federal land acquiring ancestors. This material supplements what is in the
homestead file, allows you to see names of neighboring claims, even if those
claims were not completed. If you've ever wondered who might have started a
claim near your ancestor, but never completed it--these books are the way to
find out. Our webinar on using the books (most of which are available
for free on FamilySearch) discusses several examples in Ohio, Illinois,
and Nebraska for a variety of federal land purchase types. If you've never
used the tract books because you found them too confusing, let this webinar
cut through the confusion
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Sections,
Townships, Base Lines, etc--Land Descriptions in Federal Land States. The
presentation focused on interpreting these descriptions, determining acreages
and becoming familiar with the terminology. This presentation is geared
towards those who have had difficulty using land descriptions or who have
avoided using land records because of the use of legal descriptions. The use
of land records for genealogy and searching those records are not a part of
this presentation. This presentation concentrates on how land is described
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Using
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Website.. This lecture
discusses effective search techniques for the site, how to formulate your
searches, how to trouble-shoot searches, a search template, and what records
patents in the BLM site can lead to.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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DeedMapper Geared
for the person who is not familiar with DeedMapper--which maps
properties described in metes and bounds, allows users to map multiple
parcels on the same map, manipulate plats, insertbackground images. This
works through one example and discusses other features of the program.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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DeedMapper with Virginia Land Patents. The session on DeedMapperdiscusses how patents for
John Rucker and several of his neighbors were located using the Library of
Virginia website. The presentation discusses the downloading of the patents,
reading them, inputting the descriptions into DeedMapper and
attempting to fit them together using the plats created by DeedMapper.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Methodology
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What
is Not Written. This presentation discusses the
importance of discovering, as best you can, what is going on "behind the
scenes" with a document or a record. Materials used by genealogists are
usually created in response to some event and sometimes seeing what's
"really going on" is not easy. Through examples and general
methodology we will see how to get "behind" the document and
discover what was really going on.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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The
Genealogical Proof Standard for the Non-Professional. One
of our most popular webinars, this presentation provides an overview of the
“Genealogical Proof Standard,” including a discussion on the “exhaustive
search.” The Proof Standard is not just for professionals, any genealogist
who wants to improve their research and get past those stumbling blocks would
be well served by implementing it in their research. Our discussion is
practical, down-to-earth, and hands-on.
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Charts,
Charts and More Charts. Readers of the newsletter know that I
love charts--and I'm not talking about pedigree and family group charts.
Instead I'm talking about charts that organize information you have in order
to see what's missing, notice patterns, and organize your research. In this
webinar, I talk about key elements to include in any chart, troubleshooting
before you get started, brainstorming, and ways to get creative with your
data. Geared towards advanced beginners and intermediate researchers
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Creating
Research Plans. This presentation discusses how to create your research
plans, how to set goals, how to not set goals, when you are proving and when
you are not, and other key concepts. Of course, we have a few charts as well.
Our attempt is to be down-to-earth and practical. I realize that most
genealogists are not going to write journal articles, however our research
needs to be as thorough as possible and our analysis and method well-thought
out or we're not going to get the best possible story on great-great-grandma
that there is. This presentation is geared towards intermediate researchers,
but advanced beginners might get some benefit from it as well
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Making and Proving Your Case. Geared towards advanced beginners and intermediate
researchers, this presentation discusses things to think about before writing
up "your case." Talks about statements, primary, secondary, ways to
prove yourself, considering all the options, disproving, citation, etc.
Provides the viewer with ideas on how to "make their case" and see
gaps or omissions in their research.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Creating Families from Pre-1850 Census Records --This presentation discusses how to analyze pre-1850 census
records in order to determine the family structure that is suggested by those
records. Enumerations for one household between 1810 and 1840 are analyzed in
order to determine the number of children, ranges on their years of birth,
and ranges on years of birth for the oldest male and oldest female in the
household.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Seeing the Patterns-Organizing Your Information.
This lecture discusses the problem-solving process and a variety of ways
to organize your information with the intent of getting the
research to notice overlooked clues, patterns, trends, and
information. $8.50 includes handout and hour-long lecture.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Migrations
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Determining
Your Own Migration Trail/Chain. This lecture
discusses ways to find the names of your ancestor's associates and ways to
determine how your ancestor fit into a larger chain of migration. Geared
towards advanced beginners and intermediate researchers
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$5.00 - add to cart
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Crossing
the Pond. This presentation discusses problem-solving strategies for
tracing 18th and 19th century ancestors back across the Atlantic. It is
geared towards advanced beginning and intermediate researchers. This
presentation does not merely list a list of sources, but focuses on research
methods
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Military
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Did
Your Ancestor Get a Civil War Pension? This presentation
discusses ways to determine if your ancestor recieved a Civil War
pension--either Union or Confederate. Free sites are the only ones discussed
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$5.00 -add to cart
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American
Revolutionary War Materials on Fold3.com. Our discussion
concentrated on what items from the Revolutionary War era were on Fold3.com
and how to search those materials. The presentation was approximately 45
minutes in length. A short handout was also included. The presentation is
geared toward those who have not utilized these materials on Fold3.com
and aren't all that familiar with how to interact with the search and
navigational system of Fold3--both are discussed in addition to the records.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Naturalizations
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United States Naturalization Records pre-1920 - This presentation is an overview of naturalization records
in the United States prior to 1920, focusing on locating and understanding
the records. Women's citizenship and derivative citizenship are also
included.
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Newspapers
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Newspaper Research Aimed at
advanced beginners and intermediate level researchers, this webinar discusses
research techniques for searching newspapers in digital, microfilm, and
original formats. Pitfalls of using digital newspapers are discussed, along
with manual search techniques and what types of materials to look for besides
obituaries and death notices. This presentation is not merely a
list of online sites or an attempt to get subscribers to any specific
database
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$5.00 -add to cart
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Using Newspapers at the Library of
Congress. This presentation discusses search techniques
and methods for utilizing the free online digital images of newspapers at the
Library of Congress site. Also discussed are pros and cons of
varying search structure, effective navigation of search results, and
determining what content is a part of this site.
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$5.00 —add to cart.
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