Douglas Adams on Presidents

This one is a bit more cynical–okay, very much more cynical–than the last quotation I shared. It still seemed appropriate for today.

Zaphod BeeblebroxThe major problem—one of the major problems, for there are several—one of the many major problems with governing people is that of whom you get to do it; or rather of who manages to get people to let them do it to them.

To summarise: it is a well-known fact that those people who most want to rule people are, ipso facto, those least suited to do it. To summarise the summary: anyone who is capable of getting themselves made President should on no account be allowed to do the job. To summarise the summary of the summary: people are a problem.

—Douglas Adams
from The Restaurant at the End of the Universe

 

 

 

That nifty drawing of Zaphod was drawn by Terry Cooper.

Top 5 Tuesday – Top 5 books on my TBR that intimidate me

Top 5 Tuesday Logo
This week’s topic is, “Top 5 books on my TBR that intimidate me” I haven’t done one of these in a minute, this seemed like a fun one to try.

In alphabetical order by author:

1 Cover for The Annotated Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler
The Annotated Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler

Edited by Owen Hill, Pamela Jackson and Anthony Rizzuto

I love The Big Sleep–it was my first Chandler novel, it’s the one I’ve read the most often. And the idea of learning more about it, getting background, digging into to some of the scholarship, etc. sounds great (which is why I ordered it months before it came out in 2018). But I haven’t been able to bring myself to read it–there’s part of me that doesn’t want to know that much about it (and I almost never say that kind of thing). I’m also a little afraid that it’s going to flip a switch and I’m going to spend months digging into Chandler scholarship in general.

2 Cover of The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins
The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

I don’t know that intimidated is the best word, but I needed a fifth book. I’m more apprehensive about dipping back into that world. Also, apathetic. But sure…let’s go with intimidated.

3 The Cover of The Will in Its Theological Relations by John L. Girardeau
The Will in Its Theological Relations by John L. Girardeau

550 pages of a critique of Jonathan Edwards and a restatement of the classic Reformed position on the freedom and bondage of the will in dense 19th Century language. Yeah, that’s easy to see why I’m intimidated.

4 The Cover of Stiletto by Daniel O'Malley
Stiletto by Daniel O’Malley

The Rook is such a good novel, but after seeing some not-as-good reviews, I’ve been putting it off since it was published. I just don’t want anything to tarnish The Rook in my mind.

I should add that I haven’t seen bad reviews for Stiletto, just people who didn’t like it as much as I’d hoped. Which makes it different than the other books by O’Malley.

5 The Cover of Flynn's World by Gregory Mcdonald
Flynn’s World by Gregory Mcdonald

Similarly, I just don’t know if I can muster up the courage to read this one. The Fletch novels that Mcdonald wrote in his later years were good enough, but they were missing something. I’m afraid that this would be the same way–that it came so many years after the Fletch books, makes me even more intimidated by it. The initial Flynn books are probably in my all-time favorite stack. I just don’t want to see it be tarnished.

But there’s a chance I’m missing out on something really good.

Archie Goodwin on Voting

For the 3 of you who are unaware, it’s Election Day in the U.S., so I thought I’d share this little bit from Archie Goodwin to commemorate it.

Archie GoodwinThe most interesting incident Tuesday morning was my walking to a building on Thirty-fourth Street to enter a booth and push levers on a voting machine. I have never understood why anybody passes up that bargain. It doesn’t cost a cent, and for that couple of minutes, you’re the star of the show, with top billing. It’s the only way that really counts for you to say I’m it, I’m the one that decides what’s going to happen and who’s going to make it happen. It’s the only time I really feel important and know I have a right to. Wonderful. Sometimes the feeling lasts all the way home if somebody doesn’t bump me.

–Archie Goodwin
from A Family Affair

MUSIC MONDAY: “Gitchee Gitchee Goo” by Phineas and Ferb

Music Monday

Music Monday's originated at The Tattooed Book Geek's fantastic blog and has shown up hither, thither, and yon since then.

I don’t know about the rest of you, but I needed something silly and fun today. Also, it’s just a good song.

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On the Christian Life: A New Translation by John Calvin, Raymond A. Blacketer (Translator): A Shiny New Translation of Gold Standard

Cover of On the Christian Life by John CalvinOn the Christian Life:
A New Translation

by John Calvin, Raymond A. Blacketer (Translator), Anthony N. S. Lane (Editor)

DETAILS:
Publisher: Crossway
Publication Date: August 20, 2024
Format: Hardcover
Length: 65 pg.
Read Date: October 20, 2024
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What’s On the Christian Life About?

These are excerpts from John Calvin’s The Institutes of the Christian Religion focused on the life of the Christian–they’ve been excerpted as such from the time of Calvin, and translated into English (and other languages) from before the final edition of The Institutes were published–then they were updated to match the following editions.

This are from chapters 6-10 of Book Three of The Institutes, setting out general principles to guide our lives–rather than stringent rules and extra-biblical commandments. Calvin starts by talking about ordering our lives correctly, looking for small progress throughout our lives, not perfection. The There are some chapters on self-denial, focusing on Matthew 16. Then there’s a chapter focusing on the life to come–where our eyes and hearts should be focused, and the way to go about that. The last chapter is about the use and enjoyment of “the present life and earthly possessions.”

A New Translation?

I now have three copies of this–I had another edition, but I lost track of it somewhere along the line, I’m not sure which translator worked on it (which is a shame, it was a nice looking one). So I can’t compare and contrast as much as I want.

But I do have the translations by Henry J. Van Andel and Aaron Clay Denlinger. Denlinger’s translation reads pretty close to Blacketer’s, but there are differences. Van Andel’s comes across as stuffy and wooden…maybe staid?…in comparison to both (it’s also more than 50 years old, and I’m sure that plays a role, but even then…it’s so different than the other two).

Like I said, Blacketer and Denlinger read pretty similarly–but there’s something about the two that makes you very aware that while they’re on the same page, they’re different enough to justify their independent existences.

I don’t know enough French or Latin (read: practically none) to actually be able to tell you which is a better translation–for all I know Van Andel’s formality hits it better than these new kids. But I know in English, Blacketer comes across as precise, clear, and heartfelt. That’s good enough for me. Also, the footnotes are great (something the other editions could really use some help with)–both in terms of cross-references, and translation notes.

I thought of posting some quotations from the three versions for comparison (and maybe I should’ve), but without the Latin/French, it felt like that approach would be missing something.

Do we need this translation of the book? I don’t know, honestly. But as this is the first taste of Blacketer’s work with Calvin that the general public is getting while Crossway gets ready to publish his translation of The Institutes, it serves as a preview of that work. I, for one, am ready to buy it.

So, what did I think about On the Christian Life ?

I can’t tell you how many times that I’ve read this material–either in versions of this book, or in The Institutes. But every time, it strikes me as fresh, applicable, and useful. It generally feels like it could’ve been published within the last five years (whether I read it in 1996 or 2024).

Calvin never makes this out to be something we can generate within our selves. This isn’t something we do to earn, or prove, our salvation or God’s affections/pleasure. This is, rather, what’s expected of those who have faith–what faith should look like–but something stumbling, something imperfect, something we strive to do better at. There’s both grace and motivation there–and it’s foolish to expect anything else (or want anything else).

I really do think I could go on and on here, but instead, I think I should point you at the work itself. It’s a mere 73 pages in this edition, if you include the introduction and indexes. But this isn’t the kind of thing you can gulp down in an hour–it’s not a difficult read in terms of complications or weighty arguments. But there’s a depth that belies the brevity.

It’s helpful. It’s encouraging. It’s challenging. I commend it–in any translation, but particularly this new one–to your attention.


5 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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Saturday Miscellany—11/2/24

Whoo-hoo! Tonight’s the night where we get a bonus hour of reading!! (which makes up for the one in the spring where they steal one). At least that’s the case for us in the U.S. of A., the rest of you already got that bonus, right?

Odds ‘n ends about books and reading that caught my eye this week. You’ve probably seen some/most/all of them, but just in case:
bullet How To Find Comfort in Your Bookish Community in Stressful Times—Stressful times? What stressful times? Oh…right. Now. Silly me. (feel free to substitute the name of your local Indie Bookstore for “Rediscovered Books”)
bullet Have you purchased a weirdly low-quality paperback book lately? This may be why.—that’d explain it
bullet The Longest Long Words List: Don’t read this if you have hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia (fear of long words).—try to work some of these into conversation this week.
bullet If You Like…by Olivia Blacke, author of A New Lease on Death—The TV shows that inspired the new book
bullet Grief Is the Thing Worth Feeling: On Michael Ende’s The Neverending Story
bullet Putting the Fangs into Fantasy: Why I Wrote my Book—Ed Crocker describes why he put Vampires and Werewolves into his Epid Fantasy…and probably convinced me to add it to Mt. TBR
bullet The Most Iconic Speculative Fiction Books of the 21st Century—from Reactor Mag
bullet I’m Not Sure I Miss All the Bookish Hype
bullet Using Someone Else’s Tools: The Ethics of Playing in Another Creative’s Playground—Peat Long takes both sides in an argument and convinces me with each
bullet The Magic-Wielding Characters Bracket Challenge Hub Page—If, like me, you’re trying to catch up on these posts, here’s a handy-dandy list.

To help talk about backlist titles (and just for fun), What Was I Talking About 10 Years Ago Week?
bullet The Deaths of Tao by Wesley Chu
bullet And the release of: The Peripheral by William Gibson; The Slow Regard of Silent Things by Patrick Rothfuss; and Drawn Blades by Kelly McCullough

This Week’s New Releases that I’m Excited About and/or You’ll Probably See Here Soon:
bullet A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke—dark comedy, a ghost, a twentysomething fish-out-of-water, and amatuer detectvies stumbling through a murder mystery. What’s not to like? I rather enjoyed it.
bullet The Late Lord Thorpe by Peter Grainger, read by Gildart Jackson—The PI, DC Smith, looks into a death and finds more than anyone expects (or so I guess)
bullet What If… Marc Spector Was A Host To Venom? by Mike Chen—I’ve never really gotten into Venom the way that everyone else has seemed to, and Moon Knight isn’t my favorite either. Combining the two sounds like it could be interesting, and if anyone can convince me to jump on the train, it’s Mike Chen
bullet The Naturalist Society by Carrie Vaughn—is probably worth a look for the magic system alone, but the story, character, and setting make this look even better
bullet Grave Talk by Nick Spalding—this is a novel about grieving with the help of an unlikely friend, bound by coincidence and geography
bullet Comedy Book: How Comedy Conquered Culture–And the Magic That Makes It Work by Jesse David Fox—out now in paperback. Which is great, because I hadn’t heard of it in hardcover. It “tackles everything you need to know about comedy, an art form that has been under-considered throughout its history, even as it has ascended as a cultural force.”
Books Wash Away from the Soul the Dust of Everyday Life

October 2024 in Retrospect: What I Read/Listened to/Wrote About

I finished 24 titles in October (8 up from last month, 1 down from last October), with an equivalent of 6,605+ pages or the equivalent (1,657+ up from last month), and gave them an average of 3.7 stars (.43 down from last month). Man, audio-only productions really mess with my page count math.

A stupid cold, a lot of activity on the personal front, and miscellaneous other things are really draining my energy and making it hard to post lately. I’m trying to come up with a workable solution to this that doesn’t involve retirement (either from this or the day job). In the meantime, I’ll just grumble about how little I”m writing 🙂 Actually, that cold did more than set back my writing–you’ll note on the calendar at the bottom of the post that there are two blank days there. I don’t know the last time I spent two days without reading.

Anyway, here’s what happened here in October.
Books/Novels/Novellas Read/Listened to,6

Cover of Black Maria by Christine Boyer Cover of Born to Be Hanged by Keith Thomson Cover of Starter Villain by John Scalzi
4 Stars 3 Stars 4 1/2 Stars
Cover of Blind to Midnight by Reed Farrel Coleman Cover of The More the Terrier by David Rosenfelt Cover of Lula Dean's Little Library of Banned Books by Kirsten Miller
3 Stars 4 Stars 2 Stars
Cover of How to Age Disgracefully by Clare Pooley Cover of My Darkest Prayer by S.A. Cosby Cover of Fearless by MW Craven
3 Stars 5 Stars 5 Stars
Cover of On Classical Trinitarianism by Matthew Barrett Cover of A New Lease on Death by Olivia Blacke Cover of Constituent Service by John Scalzi
5 Stars 4 Stars 4 Stars
Cover of Dreadful by Caitlin Rozakis Cover of Buzz Kill by Alison Gaylin Cover of Pupposites Attract 1 by Hono Natsuna
3.5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars
Cover of On the Christian Life by John Calvin Cover of Hermit of Paradise by Kim Sanders Cover of Not Till We Are Lost by Dennis E. Taylor
5 Stars 1 Star 4 Stars
Cover of The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress by Robert A. Heinlein Cover of Pigeon-Blood Red by Ed Duncan Cover of Spook Street by Mick Herron
4 Stars 3.5 Stars 4 1/2 Stars
Cover of Obitchuary by Spencer Henry and Madison Reyes Cover of I’m Still a 10-Year-Old Boy by Nancy Cartwright Cover of Ashes Never Lie by Lee Goldberg
3 Stars 3 Stars 4 Stars

Still Reading

Glorifying and Enjoying God Institutes of Elenctic Theology Vol. 3 Saint Cyril of Alexandria and the Christological Controversy

Ratings

5 Stars 4 2 1/2 Stars 0
4 1/2 Stars 2 2 Stars 2
4 Stars 8 1 1/2 Stars 0
3.5 Stars 2 1 Star 1
3 Stars 6
Average = 3.7

TBR Stacks/Piles/Heaps

Audio E-book Physical Goodreads
Want-to-Read
NetGalley
Shelf/ARCs/Review Copies
End of
2023
6 47 68 153 5
1st of the
Month
5 58 75 166 6
Added 5 5 8 2 6
Read/
Listened
5 1 5 1 3
Current Total 5 62 78 167 9

Breakdowns:
“Traditionally” Published: 21
Self-/Independent Published: 3

Genre This Month Year to Date
Children’s 0 (0%) 7 (3%)
Fantasy 1 (4%) 32 (15%)
General Fiction/ Literature 3 (13%) 21 (10%)
Mystery/ Suspense/ Thriller 10 (42%) 67 (30%)
Non-Fiction 3 (13%) 20 (9%)
Science Fiction 4 (17%) 18 (8%)
Theology/ Christian Living 2 (8%) 24 (11%)
Urban Fantasy 0 (0%) 25 (11%)
“Other” (Horror/ Humor/ Steampunk/ Western) 1 (4%) 2 (2%)

Review-ish Things Posted

Other Things I Wrote
Other than the Saturday Miscellanies (5th, 12th, 19th, and 26th), I also wrote:

Enough about me—how Was Your Month?


October Bookmory

Blood Reunion by JCM Berne: Space Vampires, Secret Identities, and a Promise of Something Worse

Finally, after umpteen drafts, I have something finished. Not in a satisfying (to me, anyway) way. But I’ve covered everything that I want to in a way that doesn’t make me recoil. I’m going to have to call that good enough.


Cover of Blood Reunion by JCM BerneBlood Reunion

by JCM Berne

DETAILS:
Series: Hybrid Helix, Turn 3
Publisher: Gnost Hose
Publication Date: October 17, 2022
Format: Hardcover
Length: 399 pg.
Read Date: August 15-17, 2024
Buy from Bookshop.org Support Indie Bookstores

What’s Blood Reunion About?

There’s a nasty, Buffy-Summers-would-be-paralyzed-with-fear level vampire loose on Wistful. Rohan and his friends, some new allies, and a couple of people he’d really not rather work with have to stop it before it kills everyone aboard and countless others when it can escape—or before the Empire obliterates Wistful to achieve the latter end.

’nuff said.

Back to Wistful

I guess some readers complained that the second book in the series took place on Earth, not on Wistful, the sentient space station that Rohan calls home. I didn’t share the sentiment, but I guess I could understand that—it wasn’t just Wistful that we didn’t get that much from, it was most of the other characters that were introduced in the first turn.

Being back on Wistful, however, has me thinking that maybe those people were on to something. Having our hero back on his adoptive home turf—with the advantages and challenges that it brings really adds something to the story. Wistful is an interesting character and a great setting (and we get to see a lot more of both aspects of Wistful here). Having characters like Wei Li and the Ursans on hand is a major plus, too.

I won’t complain about Rohan going to visit Earth—but I’m sure glad to see him home.

Daddy Issues

We met Rohan’s fantastic mother in Return of The Griffin, and now it’s time to meet Dad. Boy, I missed Mom—and this isn’t a knock on Berne’s work introducing us to Dhruv, I think we’re supposed to find hi a problematic character.

He’s got quite the charm about him, do doubt. He’s determined, he’s focused, he’s powerful, he’s wily—things that he clearly passed on to his son. He’s also deceitful, egotistical, stubborn, and unwilling to consider opposing points of view (other things you can see in Rohan, but he’s fighting them).

He and Rohan have a complicated relationship, let’s say.

The addition of Rohan’s mother to the series was fun and mostly sweet. This is fun and…something else. I’m not sure what that something is quite yet. I think we need to see a little more from Dhruv, and I expect we will.

Rohan’s Dilemma

This right here is what draws me to Rohan (well, in addition to the banter, the action, and everything else)—Berne isn’t satisfied to just give us a super powerful, quippy, superhero. Rohan is trying to get away from his past and to live differently.

But…like the man said, “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” Rohan can’t get away from his reputation, his status, his errors/crimes, and even his inclinations to act as the Griffin. Not only can he not escape all that—he has to rely on it here. I don’t want to get into details here, but Rohan has to play the Rohan card to keep the il’Drach Empire from coming in making a bad situation worse.

He also has to wrestle with himself—he knows (on some level) and is being told repeatedly by just about everyone—that to save the people on the station (and maybe even beyond it), he has to kill the vampire. But he’s trying not to do that anymore. Also, he thinks there are ways to defeat the vampire without killing him…Rohan just has to figure out what those are. But he’s torn—if he does “the right thing” for him and his morals, what’s the risk/damage to the innocents on Wistful? Should he be willing to even consider that?

Beyond that…Rohan has to let some people jeopardize themselves—and even outright sacrifice themselves so he has a chance to stop the vampire.

I really love that Berne is making Rohan deal with this (it’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last, I trust).

So, what did I think about Blood Reunion?

It’s a JCM Berne book. This means I liked it and I think you should read it. I have two unread JCM Berne books on my TBR shelf—I can tell you now, with 98.732% confidence, that’s what I’m going to say about those. The question here is…what do I say specifically?

The vampires (both kinds we see here) are just cool. Nothing incredibly revolutionary about them—it’s nigh unto impossible to do something new with a vampire, it’s just about how can you make one of the most utilized creature-types feel fresh. Berne pulls it off. They’re even different than the vamps in Return of the Griffin, so that’s a neat trick. I want to say more about this, but that’d violate my spoiler policy.

Dhruv was just great—I mistyped that a second ago as “grate,” but maybe that was a slip of the Freudian-type. Because he can be a little grating, too. By design, I should stress. But I look forward to his return as much as Rohan is apprehensive about it.

The exploration of Wistful was interesting and the promise of finding more layers to her is fantastic. I would’ve liked a bit more of it now though, it’s the one point where I think Berne could’ve improved here. Maybe in the aftermath of this, Wistful and Rohan (or Rohan and Wei Li) can debrief some on this and I’ll feel better about it.

Speaking of Wei Li—if anyone is going to supplant Rohan in my book, it’s going to be Wei Li. Can we get a spinoff novella or seven?

I have to mention the dialogue, not just the bantering (but especially the bantering). Berne has reached Jim Butcher-levels here. I don’t care what the story is, I just want to read his characters talking.

I don’t have anything else to say, really—action, dialogue, great aliens, some good moral dilemmas, and some quality time with characters that are becoming old friends. Blood Reunion is another winner from Berne. Go grab Wistful Ascending and dive in!!


4 1/2 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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October Book Haul (and some other stuff)

The ones of you demanded a new video and I have acquiesced, with a Book Haul–because, why not?

Also featured–my lingering cough, and more “um”s than I care to admit (even if Valerie Fridland’s defense of the use of it in Like, Literally, Dude was convincing), and me likely butchering the pronunciation of some author names. Sounds like fun, right?

Pupposites Attract 1 by Hono Natsuna, Matt Trayvaud (translator): And They Called It Puppy Love…

Cover of Pupposites Attract 1 by Hono NatsunaPupposites Attract 1

by Hono Natsuna, Matt Trayvaud (Translator)

DETAILS:
Series: Pupposites Attract, #1
Publisher: Kodansha Comics
Publication Date: August 6, 2024
Format: Paperback
Length: 160 pg.
Read Date: October 19, 2024
Buy from Bookshop.org Support Indie Bookstores

What’s Pupposites Attract 1 About?

This is the story about the beginning of a relationship—two really. Boy walking dog meets girl walking dog. It’s sort of like when Roger Radcliffe and Pongo met Anita Dearly and Perdita for the first time, just not quite as calamitous (still, I don’t know someone doesn’t think of that scene—especially someone whose children were obsessed with the ’61 animated version).

Kiyotaka’s a big guy, a little on the shy side—his dog Monjuro is a little Pomeranian who is nothing but adorable fluffiness and outgoing energy. Chiharu’s a bold extrovert and her Rottweiler, Tsubu, is a gentle giant (who may tend toward a nervousness that feels out of place for such a big guy).

A few chance encounters mark the beginning of a friendship between the two humans—and between the two dogs. The dogs seem to know before the humans do that there’s more going on between them than friendship—or at least that there should be. Although, most of the humans we see realize that about Chiharu and Kiyotaka, too—so it’s not (necessarily) that the dogs who know them best are really that insightful, it’s just these two kids are kind of clueless on this front. Which is its own charm.

That’s basically the story so far.

Translator’s Notes

Following the story, we get some character design sheets and a few pages of translator’s notes which talk about some of the cultural background, explain the dog names (although the story itself does a pretty decent job of that), and things of that nature. Most of the translator’s notes didn’t help me too much—but those that did were great. (and I expect other readers will have the opposite reaction to me) Regardless, it’s a nice tough for people who may not be all that familiar—or familiar at all—with manga.

Like me.

A Little Word About the Art

It was good—nothing that blew me away, but I enjoyed it.

I think that Kiyotaka could be drawn a bit more consistently, but maybe I’m missing something (that’ very likely). The dogs were drawn perfectly—they’re so adorable that you want to take them home—or at least roll around on the ground and play with them regularly.

Hono Natsuna nailed depicting the emotions, both human and canine. That can be tough to convey, but there were many scenes where the text really wasn’t needed to tell the story in addition to the art.

So, what did I think about Pupposites Attract 1?

This is a cute little story, you could tell from the beginning (or from the blurb on the back) where things were going—it’s not the kind of thing you read to find out what happens, but to enjoy while the obvious takes place. As such, it worked well. You don’t need surprises or twists as long as someone tells a good story well—and Hono Natsuna did that.

It’s just as heartwarming as you want it to be. The humans are sweet and bad at relationships, so it’s amusing to see them fumble along. The dogs are…well, you all know I’m a sucker for a good dog character, and these two deserve all the scritches, belly rubs and treats they can handle.

I picked this up thanks to this post from Twirling Book Princess, and seeing it on the shelf of a bookstore I was using a gift certificate at the following weekend. It’s really out of my comfort zone—honestly, it’s the first manga I’ve done more than flip through, in addition to being a Romance. But I’m glad I saw TBP’s post and took a chance. I had fun, and pretty much have to keep going with the story.

I would’ve liked a bit more substance, a bit of meat to chew on—this is very airy, very light. But I have to think that’s a function of genre. The story doesn’t need it, I’d have just liked it.

Regardless—if you’re looking for something light, sweet, feel-good, and quick to read, give Pupposites Attract. I can’t imagine you won’t be satisfied.


3 Stars

This post contains an affiliate link. If you purchase from it, I will get a small commission at no additional cost to you. As always, the opinions expressed are my own.
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