Mosaic photo books: the easiest way to preserve your memories in print

I've always been a big fan of Mosaic's lovely-to-look-at, easy-to-use, quick-to-arrive photo books. And as an Android smartphone user, I'm an even bigger fan now that the Mosaic app is available for Android!  Now it's easier than ever for me to create a beautiful photo book from the photos on my phone.  A Mosaic photo book costs just $20 plus shipping and handling, which is a great price for such a beautiful book.

 You can literally create a Mosaic photo book in five minutes.  It will take you longer to select your photos than to create the book!  In fact, it might even take you longer to select your photos than it takes for Mosaic to print and ship your photo book!  Here's all you have to do:

Step 1: Choose your photos.  You can choose 20 photos from your camera roll, and you can choose the order in which they will appear in your photo book.

Step 2: Choose whether you want your photos to appear on a white or a black background. You get 1 photo per page, no cropping, no zooming, no captions, so if you want to edit your photos at all, do it on your phone or tablet before loading them into Mosaic!

Step 3:  The first page of your Mosaic photo album is a randomly generated collage of 13 of the photos in your book.  If you don't like the photos that appear, you can reshuffle.

Step 4: Place your order.  That's it!  You don't have to create an account, just give your name and address.  Your book will be printed in 48 hours and delivered in 4 days.  It arrives in stylish kraft paper box -- perfect for gift giving and for storage.

I've made many Mosaic photo books from our past vacations, and they make wonderful conversation pieces when family and friends come over to visit.  No one ever has photo albums any more, so all our photos are hidden away on a hard drive or in the Cloud.  It's so nice to be able to show people something they can hold in their hand -- and since it's just 20 photos, you won't bore them to death.  Somehow, crowding around a computer screen is just not as fun as flipping through the pages of an actual book!

Don't forget, today is Father's Day -- what better way to celebrate the dad in your life than with a Mosaic photo book or a Mosaic gift card so he can create his own photo book!

Disclosure:  I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Bender's Rye Whiskey -- special Father's Day Deal

Can't figure out what to get Dad for Father's Day?  Why not go with a classic that every father is sure to love, like wine or spirits.  Just because it's a tried-and-tested present doesn't mean it has to be boring!  Go with high-quality, artisanal blends or look for up-and-coming trends like small batch bourbon, flavored whiskey, and Asian spirits.

One kind of brown spirit rising in popularity is rye whiskey. I didn't even know what rye whisky was, or how good it tasted, until I received a bottle of Bender's Rye to review.  I normally hate whiskey, I can barely even let it touch my lips without feeling nauseated, but Bender's Rye whiskey is so smooth and sweet, it really goes down easily, leaving just a nice fiery warmth!  Alfie loves it -- he's already made lots of hot toddies and Irish whiskey to savor and enjoy on the couch after the kids go to bed!  What a great gift idea for Father's Day!

About Bender's Rye
Raise your glass for the dads in your life with a 7 years-aged spirit that boasts exclusivity and character. Bender's Rye was aged in American White Oak Barrels and produced at The Treasure Island Distillery in San Francisco and only 3,348 bottles made.

Bender's Rye is a true hipster's drink -- trendy, small-batch, impeccable packaging, whimsical and unpretentious labeling, and of course, the highest quality.  Since Bender's Rye is brewed in San Francisco (lucky us!), Bender's Rye can be found in wine and spirit stores across the Bay Area.  You can also purchase Bender's Rye online from Bounty Hunter -- and they have a great deal running for Father's Day!  Their special pricing for Father's Day includes free shipping and 10% off a purchase of 3 bottles or more, a savings of $25.  Don't miss this chance to show Dad that you've inherited his good taste!

Disclosure: I received a sample for review. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Happy Father's Day from Disney's Planes!

Father's Day is tomorrow, June 16, and Disney's upcoming Planes movie wants to help you celebrate with some fun activities and an e-card!  Enjoy, and Happy Father's Day!

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Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Father's Day Gift Idea: Skylanders Giants

If the dad in your live loves to play videogames, the Skylanders Giants set is a fun way to celebrate Father's Day!  Skylanders Giants is the sequel videogame to the popular Skylanders.  What makes these  games unique is how they merge physical toys with the video game world.  When you place a Skylanders action figure on the "Portal of Power", it creates a virtual version of the character in your Skylanders game!  How cool is that!  Players can use those characters to work their way through the game.  There are tons of figures to collect, and you can even use the action figures from the original Skylanders game in Skylanders giants, so this is a game that grows with  your family.  Dad is going to love it!

This Father’s Day, combine two things dad loves- spending time with his kids and gaming! The most popular game that dads play with their kids, Skylanders Giants, offers a starter pack for only $69.99 (available on any console). Now dad can spend quality family time by helping the kids bring toys to life in the world of Skylands!

Already a fan? Surprise dad with a special handmade Skylanders frame and include one of your favorite memories of playing the game with dad! The quick and simple character frame gift idea can be made in 5 easy steps- instructions below.

You can download the instructions by right-clicking on the image with your mouse and selecting the "Save As..." option.  Happy Father's Day!



Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Give dad the gift of knowledge on Father's Day

I received a copy to review

When it comes to the dad in your life, the sky's the limit -- you'll do anything to let him know how much you love and appreciate him!  If he's a science geek, or just has a galactic thirst for knowledge, Jim Bell's "The Space Book" might just be the perfect Father's Day present.  I received a review copy of this book, and it is truly fascinating.  The author presents 250 of the most groundbreaking astronomical events, from the formation of galaxies to the moon landings to the recent discovery of water ice on Mars. You can digest this book in bite-sized chunks:  just read a little bit each day, or when it suits you.  Each entry has beautiful photographs or illustrations, making the book an easy, entertaining, mind-opening read.

Are dad's interests a bit more down-to-earth?  Check out Sterling Publishing's book list -- with over 5,000 titles, whatever dad is into, they have a book he'll love!  Here are four other books published by Sterling that I think would make great Father's Day presents:


Man Crafts: Leather Tooling, Fly Tying, Ax Whittling, and Other Cool Things to Do:  Help dad find a hobby (or develop an existing one) with 10 mini instruction manuals

All-New Baseball Brainteasers: 60 Major League Puzzles:  Does dad consider himself a baseball fan?  This book will test his knowledge of the game.

Brain Aerobics Cryptograms:  You may not be able to drag dad off the couch, but you can at least give his brain a workout.

The World Atlas of Beer: The Essential Guide to the Beers of the World.  Make sure dad can enjoy the pint of the best, anywhere in the world.

Disclosure: I received a review copy of The Space Book.  The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Dads want HEXBUGS for Father's Day

Father's Day is one week away, and it's time to get dad a present!  So what constitutes the perfect Father's Day present?  Forget neckties and soap-on-a-rope, don't get him something he needs or something he thinks he needs, get him something he WANTS.  And if he's like most dads, he'll want something totally techie, something totally cool or something that brings out the little kid in him.  Even better, get him something that meets all 3 criteria: a HEXBUG remote-control spider! HEXBUGS sent me a pair of HEXBUG Spider XL toys to show me what great Father's Day presents they would make.  I have to admit I was skeptical -- and so was Alfie --but within 10 minutes we had both changed our minds.

The HEXBUG Spider XL is a jumbo-sized, remote-controlled robotic creature resembling a spider (for some reason, it has 6 legs, not 8).  It's super easy to maneuver and super fascinating to watch.  Here's a video of Jammy demonstrating how to control the spider to make it move and turn:



The boys, of course, fell in love with the toy right away.  It was all I could do to restrain them from claiming both spiders, one for each of them.  In the end I convinced them to share the blue spider and give the red one to their dad.

Like I said, 10 minutes is all it took for Alfie to turn into a little boy again.  This is definitely a toy for big and little boys.  It moves like a droid on Star Wars; it's so fascinating to watch it turn its head and scuttle back and forth, side to side!   The boys -- all 3 of them -- enjoyed making the spiders scuttle across the table, but the real fun began when they began racing the spiders around an obstacle course.  The spiders can turn on a dime -- but unlike remote controlled race cars, they don't zip out of sight and crash.  They move slow enough for the kids to maintain control at all times.  Jammy, 3Po and Alfie were able to maneuver the spiders around paper bags (if their spider touched the paper bag, it was disqualified!) and around the kitchen island.

They really had a lot of fun, and now there's some talk about designing an obstacle course with some inclines to see how the spiders handle it!

It was so cute to see the three of them playing together with the HEXBUG Spider XL -- what a fun way for dads to spend time with their kids.

Disclosure:. I received a product sample to facilitate my review, but have not been paid to review the product or give my opinions. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.
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Free Father's Day Cards from Company Kids (and a giveaway for you!)

When it comes to Father's Day greetings, the best card your child can give his dad is the homemade kind. For Father's Day this year, Company Kids has just released some fun and FREE downloadable cards for kids to download and decorate. There are two styles to choose from, and all kids need to do is download, print, and color to create fun cards for Dad.



I like how these cards have a cute, basic design to get kids started, but leave lots of room for them to put their own personality into the cards. There's even a little message in the cards so your tiniest tots don't have to do any writing; a scribble or a handprint (and a kiss on the cheek) is all that's needed for Dad to know what they're trying to say. You can download the cards on the Company Kids Facebook page.



Win a Company Kids Backpack
To celebrate Father's Day, Company Kids is giving away a cute, funky Daisy Child Backpack to one lucky Bonggamom Finds reader!




Required Entry
Post this on the Company Kids Facebook page, filling in the blank with your favorite item from Company Kids:

I wish my kids had a _______________ from Company Kids!

Then leave a comment here with the link to your post. You can find and copy the link to your Facebook wall post by right-clicking on the timestamp of the post (i.e. "2 hours ago" or "June 3 at 8:55pm"), then selecting "Copy link location". This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).


1) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry).

3) Write this on the Company Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Company Kids giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! Enter by 6/30 for a chance to win a Company Kids Daisy backpack http://ow.ly/5hKek #giveaways

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Company Kids giveaway! http://ow.ly/5hKek

5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
You could win a Daisy child backpack from @companykids ! Enter at @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/5hKek #giveaways




The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on June 30, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on July 1 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!


Disclosure: I will be receiving a Company Kids backpack as a thank-you for posting this information. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Dinosaur Train Father's Day Giveaway

Father's Day is almost here! This year, skip the burnt toast and raw eggs; the folks at Dinosaur Train have some great suggestions for Father's Day breakfast dishes. They're Dino themed, so young fans of Dinosaur Train will be inspired to make them (and eat them, so make sure there's enough to share!)

· T.rex Footprint Pancakes – with adult help, children shape the batter into the large three-toed feet of a Tyrannosaurus.

· Paleontologist Pancakes – make small pancakes, then stack them up 5 or 6 high (maybe putting apple sauce or sour cream between them), and hiding “fossils” between the layers – the fossils being pieces of strawberry, banana slices, chocolate chips, and so on.

· Stegosaurus Smoothie – a colorful, healthy fruit smoothie made with a blend of yogurt, a frozen banana, and any other fruit you wish. Serve it on a dish with a rim. In the middle of the dish, place a line of triangular fruit pieces – such as pineapple, apples, or cantaloupe. These little fruity triangles will look like the plates on a stegosaurus’ back.

· Triceratops Eggs – scrambled eggs that have “horns” sticking out of them – made of breadsticks.

After breakfast, you can watch the Pteranodon family eating their own breakfast on the Dinosaur Train website, then finish up by playing the Dinosaur Train All Aboard Game. They're available at Amazon.com, Target, Toys R Us and other major retailers.... or you can try your luck and enter to win the game here! Happy Father's Day!



Win a Dinosaur Train All Aboard Game
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will win a Dinosaur Train All Aboard Game for Father's Day!

About the game:
Hop on the Dinosaur Train and follow the path through the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. In this game, players will choose a character – Buddy, Tiny, Shiny, Don, Cory, Tank or Mr. Conductor – and try to move the fastest along the tracks. Speed through the three dinosaur eras: Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous along the beautiful scenery. Special Stopwatch spaces will help you get closer to the nest, while Dinosaur Crossing spaces will send you back. The first player to reach the nest area in the center of the board wins. (For 2 to 6 players ages 4+; SRP $12.00).


Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me how you and your family are celebrating Father's Day. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).

1) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates (1 entry).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

3) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry).

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook page (1 entry):
I entered the Dinosaur Train Father's Day giveaway! http://ow.ly/5dcBM

5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this, up to once per day (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):
Celebrate Fathers Day w/ the Dinosaur Train All Aboard game! Enter to win this cute board game fr @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/5dcBM #giveaways

6) Join any of the open giveaways on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry for every giveaway you've joined).



The Rules
This giveaway ends at 11:59PM PST on June 19, 2011; I will draw a winner at random on June 20 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. Continental US residents only. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I did not receive a sample or monetary compensation for this post. Dino breakfast ideas were provided by Dinosaur Train and is indicated in italics. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Alfie: Super Dad Extraordinaire

Last year I participated in a blog campaign for ABC's tv show, No Ordinary Family, and we were given this ultra-awesome family photo. I love seeing us depicted as superheroes! I'm not too sure about my own super abilities (other than being able to avoid laundry for weeks on end), but I have no doubt that Alfie's Super Parenting powers would put Mr. Incredible to shame.

I really am lucky to have Alfie as a co-parent to our three kids. He loves each of them to death, and he loves spending time with them. When they were babies, Alfie helped me out with the nitty-gritty tasks like bathing, diaper changing and feeding. Now that they're older he does all kinds of things with them: takes them to the park to kick a soccer ball around, washes his motorcycle with them, goes biking with them to pick up veggies at the farmers market and more. And he never misses a dance recital, concert or soccer game. He shows his love for them in little ways, like these:

1) He always makes sure they get enough water to drink.
2) He always makes sure they wear sunscreen and a hat when we go out.
3) He always
4) He reads to them each and every night.
5) Whenever he wakes up at night, he goes into their room to check on them and make sure they're warm and snuggly -- and gives them one last kiss for the night.

The kids, of course, have their own views on why their dad is a Super Dad. When I asked them what makes daddy a hero, this is what they said:

The Pea : He works hard and earns money for us, he gives great advice and he has fun hobbies.

Jammy: When stuff breaks, he fixes it.

3Po: He teaches us soccer skills and he unclogs toilets.


And there you have it. Who else could handle a computer, a motorcycle and a plunger with such ease and finesse? Superman, eat your heart out! This Father's Day, we'll be armed with a Tiny Prints Father's Day card, some soap-on-a-rope, fish and chips (his favorite food) and lots of kisses -- and we'll be giving props to the best Super Dad we know: Alfie.

Disclosure: Tiny Prints is compensating me for this post in the form of a Tiny Prints gift card. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.,

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Gillette Fusion ProGlide Father's Day Giveaway

Whereas I love to get flowers or breakfast in bed or spa certificates for Mother's Day, Father's Day presents around here tend to be more practical. Since Alfie knows he's not getting a new motorcycle for Father's Day or anything hi-tech, he likes presents like toolkits or gadgets to help around the house or grooming items he uses every day, like aftershave or cologne or shavers (but please, no soap-on-a-rope, he never uses that!).

Speaking of shavers, Gillette's newest razor, the Gillette Fusion ProGlide, is now available in Target stores and other retailers. It would make a great practical Father's Day present from the kids (there you go Alfie, it's practical and it's hi-tech). We received a sample of this new razor to review, and I'm here to report that no, it does NOT have 25 blades -- "just" 5, like older models. But the blades are much thinner than the older models -- so they tug on the skin less. The package also says the Fusion ProGlide has a "reformulated lubrication strip with more lubricants and a touch of mineral oil" , which translates to less irritated skin even if Dad shaves every day.

Win the Gillette Fusion ProGlide Razor
Three lucky Bonggamom Finds winners will each receive a Gillette Fusion ProGlide razor (retail value $9.99) along with valuable coupons for Gillette Fusion ProGlide products (redeemable at Target stores nationwide).



Required Entry
Leave a comment on this post and tell me your favorite Gillette product. This entry must be completed before extra entries qualify.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following. Please leave a separate comment for each extra entry with a way to verify the entry (i.e. tweet link, blog post link, Facebook id, Twitter id, etc.).

1) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry).

2) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry).

3) Write this on the Gillette Facebook Fan Page wall (1 entry):

I entered the Gillette Father's Day Giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! 3 winners will receive a Gillette Fusion ProGlide and you could be one of them. Enter now at http://ow.ly/1WptF

4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook Fan Page wall (1 entry):

I entered to win 1 of 3 Gillette Fusion ProGlides on Bonggamom Finds! You can enter too at http://ow.ly/1WptF

5) Follow @Gillette on Twitter (1 entry).

6) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Twitter and tweet this daily (1 entry per day, leave a comment with the tweet link for each tweet):

Enter to win a @Gillette Fusion #ProGlide (3 winners!) on @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/1WptF
#giveaway


The Rules
US addresses only. This giveaway ends at midnight PST on June 25, 2010; I will draw 3 winners at random on June 26 and post the winners' names after they confirm acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!

Disclosure: I received a product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Product information is provided by the featured company/product and is clearly indicated as such. The views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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Cafe Press Father's Day Baseball Jersey Giveaway

Fire up the barbecue and grab that baseball mitt, because Father's Day is June 20 -- are you ready?? For Father's Day, online personalized gift site CafePress invited me to select an item from their extensive collection of Father's Day gifts. Keep reading below to find out what I chose -- and enter for a chance to win one of your own!

The Basics
Cafe Press is The place for personalized items. You can find millions of personalized gifts at CafePress – for any topic, interest, or brand! They offer a multitude of styles, colors, sizes and designs for a multitude of products -- mugs, bumper stickers, bags, hats, umbrellas, baby onesies, hoodies, shirts and more. They have a great line of bag styles that include messenger bags, beach bags, gym bags and tote bags. They have so many designs to choose from, and if you can't find a design you want, you can upload your own.

The Bongga
The amount of options you have is really staggering, but CafePress does a great job of narrowing it down for you. Just type a word into the search box and they'll find some great product matches. You can even filter your search by the kind of product (shirts, or umbrellas, or whatever you choose) or by topic (pets, humor, hobbies, etc...). And for Father's Day, Cafe Press has a great Father's Day section to help you select the perfect Father's Day present.

Since I've already given my dad a Cafe Press Filipino-themed shirt, this time around I decided to choose a Father's Day present for Alfie's dad, my father-in-law. What could be more appropriate for Father's Day than a baseball jersey? My father-in-law likes the baseball jersey style of tshirt but since he's English, he doesn't follow any baseball teams. Fortunately, that's not a problem with Cafe Press. They can put practically any design on a baseball jersey, so I chose one that reflects a sport he does follow:

That's the great thing about CafePress -- it's so easy to find the perfect personalized gift.

The Blah
What can I say, the shirt is perfect! The cotton is nice and thick, and it's sized somewhat generously to allow for shrinkage. I know my Alfie's dad is going to love it!

The Bottom Line
With so many styles and designs to choose from at CafePress, you're sure to find a baseball jersey (or any other gift item) that expresses your message and your style. It's the perfect Father's Day present!



Save 30% on 3 or more CafePress men's tees
Save 30% off your total order of 3 or more men's T-shirts on CafePress, excluding shipping charges, gift wrap charges and applicable sales tax. Just enter coupon code 3FORDAD at check out. Promotion ends on June 6, 2010 at 11:59 p.m. (PST).



Win A CafePress Baseball Jersey
One lucky Bonggamom Finds reader will receive CafePress baseball jersey in their choice of design!


Required Entry
Check out all the great baseball jerseys available on CafePress, then come back here and leave a link to your favorite design. Choose carefully, because this is the design we'll be sending you if you win! This entry must be completed before any extra entries count.


Extra Entries
For extra entries, you can do any or all of the following, (you can only do each extra entry once; please leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

1) Grab my blog button and post it up on your blog (1 entry, leave a comment with your blog URL).

2) Subscribe to Bonggamom Finds updates by email (1 entry, leave a comment with your email address).

3) Write this on the CafePress Facebook Fan Page wall (1 entry, leave a comment with your FB id):

What a great Father's Day present -- a baseball jersey from CafePress! I entered to win one at the CafePress Father's Day giveaway on Bonggamom Finds http://ow.ly/1Uoan


4) Write this on the Bonggamom Finds Facebook Fan Page wall (leave a comment with your FB id):

I joined the CafePress Father's Day giveaway on Bonggamom Finds! http://ow.ly/1Uoan

5) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Networked Blogs (1 entry, leave a comment with your FB id).

6) Follow Bonggamom Finds on Blogger(1 entry, leave a comment with your Blogger profile name).

7) Leave a comment on any of my blog posts on Finding Bonggamom (1 entry, leave a comment here with the link to the post that you commented on).

8) Join any of the other giveaways currently running on Bonggamom Finds (1 entry, leave a comment here with the name of the other giveaway you joined).

9) Tweet this up to once a day (leave a comment with a link to your tweet, 1 entry):

Great Father's Day giveaway: win a @cafepress baseball jersey in the design of your choice on @bonggafinds http://ow.ly/1Uoan #giveaway pls RT


Rules
This giveaway ends at midnight PST on June 20, 2010; I will draw a winner at random on June 21 and post the winner's name after the winner confirms acceptance. For additional giveaway rules, click here. Good luck!



Disclosure: I received a product sample, but was not paid to review the product or give my opinions. Unless clearly stated, the views and opinions expressed here are my own.

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