Posted by: Jack Henry | September 19, 2024

Editor’s Corner: Polyandry

Hello folks!

I was looking at some notes and emails (and pieces of paper that I’ve scattered around) for topics to discuss. I found one that said, “reward vs. award.” I started looking into that message, but I got a little sidetracked by a different email with the word polyandry. From my little bit of Greek (and the Editor’s Corner article I sent out about werewolves) I deduced that it meant “having more than one man.” But it got more complicated when I started looking up the terms. Here are the basics (without the Greek alphabet):

  • poly = more than one (many)
  • gámos = marriage
  • ándras = man
  • gynaíka = woman

The following definitions are from the Online Etymology Dictionary:

polygamy (n.)

"marriage with more than one spouse," 1590s, from Late Latin polygamia, from Late Greek polygamia "polygamy," from polygamos "often married," from polys "many" + gamos "marriage". The word is not etymologically restricted to marriage of one man and multiple women, but is often used as if it were. [KC – So it’s not just me. In the U.S., we definitely use it to mean one man, many women.]

polyandry (n.)

"state of having more husbands than one at the same time," 1767, nativized form of polyandria, from Greek but taken in senses not found in Greek: "having many husbands," or, in botany, "having many stamens." The Greek word meant "populousness." [KC – Even more interesting! The Greek word didn’t mean women with many husbands, it just meant populous. That’s not surprising. In history, there is talk of harems and multiple wives, but not multiple husbands. Yay, botany!]

polygyny (n.)

1780, "condition of having many wives, marriage or cohabitation of one man with more than one woman at the same time," from Greek polygynēs "having many wives," from polys "many" + gynē "woman, wife"

See what happens when I get sidetracked? I find it so interesting that we can see a bit of history in the definitions of these words, how they’ve been used, and when they came about.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Posted by: Jack Henry | September 17, 2024

Editor’s Corner: Kaos

Good morning, fellow travelers! (I haven’t been anywhere lately, but I wish I were traveling.)

Today I’m here to talk about TV. Specifically, a new show called Kaos, on Netflix. When Donna mentioned it to me, I was so excited. It’s about the Greek gods and Mt. Olympus, but it takes place on Crete (where I haven’t been but would love to go).

My husband and I sat down with a bowl of Kalamata olives and prepared for hilarity (and I hoped for Greek phrases or an insult or two).

But it wasn’t for me. One of the first things I noticed was that all the street signs were in English. Then I realized that though a character was getting souvlaki or gyros or something, it was from a food truck, not a little hole in the wall souvlaki shop. On the plus side, he looked Greek.

As we made our way through the town, I thought, “That’s not Crete. Not even close.” I’ve never been there, but I knew this wasn’t it. There are Greeks in Greece, and it isn’t limited to one dark-haired dude in a taco truck. There isn’t “one look” for Greeks, but there is certainly a more traditional look. But nothing in the environment or people said “Greece,” to me.

Okay, move on Kara. Let’s get to something about language.

When they started mentioning some of the gods, I was excited. This show is a modern version of the myths, so I gave it some slack. But then Jeff Goldblum as Zeus, with an American accent? The other characters had different accents, but they were British. Still nothing to remind me of the Heroes, Gods, and Monsters of the Greek Myths.

I continued to watch, and the names were there. Orpheus, Euridice, Hera, Zeus…okay, now we’re cooking!

When a woman went to the church for something like confession, she referred to speaking with the tacita. I was tingling. An unfamiliar word to learn more about, one that I’d never heard from my cousin or other Greeks.

I kept my pen handy. Oh! A group of people doing a sort of salute and saying, “Vero.” Okay, wait a second. That sound like “truth” in romance languages [verdad – Spanish, vérité – French,
veritas – Latin), but the Greek word for truth is
αλήθεια (alēthia)]. Hmm. I’m getting suspicious.

Then a group starts singing. That sure sounds like the Pope singing Latin.

Finally, in another episode, we meet Cerberus, the three-headed dog from hell (or in hell). They call him Fotis. Again, my hackles rise.

This is what I found out about these words, for those of you less cynical than I, who may start or continue watching the show.

  • Tacita (Latin) means “silent.” There’s a good reason Tacita is silent. Spoiler alert! She has no tongue.
  • Vero (Latin) means “in truth.” Like I said, this is kind of like a salute, a “Preach it, brother!” “We’re with you, sister!”
  • Fotis (Latin) means “light.” In most cultural references I’ve seen, hell isn’t exactly a sunny place where you would call your three-headed dog Light.

Truth is (or should I say, vero), this is supposed to be a comedy. Maybe that’s why the dog’s name is Light. Maybe that’s why there aren’t any Greek people in Greece. I don’t know. I try to take fun where I can get it, but sometimes I just can’t look past the obvious.

If you are looking for some more typical Grecian myths, I loved the book I mentioned above (but I was nine years old when I read it, getting geared up for a trip to Greece). There is also something English for you, Ode on a Grecian Urn, by John Keats. There, now I feel like I taught you something.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Good morning. I hope you have your inquisitive hat on today. If not, go get it. I’ll wait…

I’m wondering if you’re wondering when to use which plural form of the word person. (That’s a mouthful!) You have two choices: you can refer to multiple individuals as either persons or people. So, how do you know which plural form to use? Now that you’ve got your hat on, I feel comfortable giving you the details.

First, here’s some history. In years gone by, most usage guides suggested a clear distinction between the words. They recommended using people when referring to an uncountable group of individuals. Conversely, they recommended using persons for a smaller, countable group. For example, in the olden days of 1776, the correct way to use these two words was described by John Trusler like this: “To be pleasant at table, none should be admitted but people of good humour: neither should there be more than seven or eight persons.”

All the way up until the early 20th century, this has been the rule for most style guides: use people for an uncountable group of individuals and use persons for smaller, countable groups. However, the trend in the last few decades has definitely been toward using people as the preferred plural form of person in almost all cases, with the exception of legal documents and some other formalized writing (and some well-known idiomatic phrases “displaced persons” and “missing persons bureau”).

For our purposes, unless you work in the Legal department, feel free to stick with the word people when referring to any size group of individuals.

You can remove your hat now. My mom says you shouldn’t have it on indoors anyway.

Donna Bradley Burcher |Technical Editor, Advisory | jack henry

Pronouns she/her/hers

9660 Granite Ridge Drive, San Diego CA 92123

Symitar Education Resources (sharepoint.com)

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About Editor’s Corner

Editor’s Corner keeps your communication skills sharp by providing information on grammar, punctuation, JHA style, and all things English. As editors, we spend our days reading, researching, and revising other people’s writing. We love to spend a few extra minutes to share what we learn with you and keep it fun while we’re doing it.

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Posted by: Jack Henry | September 10, 2024

Editor’s Corner: Supercommunicators

Sometimes here at Editor’s Corner, we talk about grammar. Sometimes we discuss new words. Still other times I go on about something that I discovered somewhere and wanted to find out more about.

Today isn’t much different. Today I attended our Knowledge Enablement (KE) book group. What have we been reading? It’s a book called Supercommunicators: How to Unlock the Secret Language of Connection, by Charles Duhigg. It’s about a new kind of superhero, who can’t find a phone booth to change into, so they hide behind their cell phone and amusement ensues.

No, it’s not like that, though conversations have turned to Marvel.

Here’s a brief synopsis from Amazon®:

Come inside a jury room as one juror leads a starkly divided room to consensus. Join a young CIA officer as he recruits a reluctant foreign agent. And sit with an accomplished surgeon as he tries, and fails, to convince yet another cancer patient to opt for the less risky course of treatment. In Supercommunicators, Charles Duhigg blends deep research and his trademark storytelling skills to show how we can all learn to identify and leverage the hidden layers that lurk beneath every conversation.

But what does this have to do with you? Well, as we experienced with COVID, and as we approach a contentious election for president, it seems like it is a good time for a reminder about “talking online.” Mr. Duhigg discusses conversations between people on different sides of politics, guns, vaccinations, etc. One of his points is how conversations that move from “in person” to online can get out of control quickly. In that spirit, I want to share a lesson we learned today. (The bold text is mine.)

When talking online, remember to… Overemphasize politeness. Numerous studies have shown that online tensions are lessened if at least one person is consistently polite. In one study, all it took was adding thanks and please to a series of online arguments—while everything else stayed the same—to reduce tensions.

Underemphasize sarcasm. When we say something in a wry tone, it signals an irony our audience usually understands. When we type something sarcastic online, we typically hear these same inflections within our heads—but the people reading our comments do not. Express more gratitude, deference, greetings, apologies, and hedges. Studies demonstrate that when we are grateful (“That comment taught me a lot”), or solicitous (“I would love to hear your thoughts”), or preface comments with a greeting (“Hey!”), or apologize in advance (“I hope you don’t mind…”) or hedge our comments (“I think…”), online communication gets better. Avoid criticism in public forums.

In another study, researchers found that giving negative feedback online backfires much more than in real life. It pushes people to write more negative things, and to start criticizing others more frequently. When we criticize others publicly online, we make bad behavior into a digital norm.

All of these, of course, are also useful tactics when we’re speaking face-to-face. Many of them are obvious, things we learned as kids. But online, they’re easy to forget because we’re typing fast, texting between meetings, hitting send or post without rereading our words to see how they might land. Online, a bit more care and thought can yield outsized rewards.

There you have it. I find it difficult to control my temper or my sense of humor at times, so I choose to avoid posting much besides beautiful scenes I see. And I block people who disagree with me. No, that’s more my husband, but there have been a few times. For now, let’s have some patience and grace with each other.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Posted by: Jack Henry | September 5, 2024

Editor’s Corner: Affect and effect, an annual review!

Good morning, friends. Almost every year, we discuss the words affect vs. effect. Here are just a few blasts from the past:

But today, I’m going to borrow shamelessly from (and edit) the article at Dictionary.com, about the extensions of these terms: affective and effective.

Quick summary

The adjective effective is commonly used, while the adjective affective is much less commonly used. Effective has several different meanings but is most often used to mean “producing the desired result” or “being in operation.” The word affective means “emotional” or “causing feeling or emotion.”

Here are some definitions and examples:

affective vs. effective

Of the two words, effective is far more commonly used and is very likely to be the word that you’re looking for. Effective has several different meanings. It can mean “producing the desired result,” “being in operation,” “impressive,” or “ready for service.”

The following sentences show examples of these different senses:

  • Adopting cats is an effective way to get rid of mice.
  • The new dress code policy is effective immediately.
  • The audience was transfixed by the effective painting.
  • The regiment consists of 10,000 effective soldiers.

By contrast, affective is a rarely used word. It means “relating to emotions” or “causing emotion” and is a synonym of the word emotional. Affective is most likely to be encountered in the contexts of psychology or psychiatry, such as in the name of seasonal affective disorder.

For example:

  • The study showed that even older children tend to form strong affective attachments with their pets.
  • Beth really liked studying affective disorders in her psychology classes.

The confusion between the commonly used effective and the rarely used affective may be related to the common confusion between the words effect and affect. The word effect is most often used as a noun to mean “consequence,” as in They studied the effects of climate change on bird migration. Meanwhile, the word affect is most often used as a verb to mean “to influence; to produce a change in,” as in The rising gas prices affected many people beyond car owners.

And some additional examples:

· I tried to use a scarecrow to protect my corn from hungry birds, but it wasn’t effective.

· The president instituted new hiring practices that will be effective starting next month.

· This ant spray must be pretty effective, because I haven’t seen a single ant in months.

· The research team was studying a new affective disorder that causes severe depression in teenagers.

I hope this change to the adjectival version of these words is as welcome as our past articles!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Posted by: Jack Henry | September 3, 2024

Editor’s Corner: Techie Terms

Good morning, folks!

One of you recently sent me a list of words, terms, and interesting articles that I could share with yinz (Pittsburghese right there!). Between some of the articles I received and a slightly dangerous one about emojis, here’s the one I picked to share with you today:

9 Techie Terms to Help You Stay Computer-Savvy

Note: They only had eight terms, and I’m only including five. 😊

Digerati

Smart, brainy, and tech-savvy folks probably consider themselves part of the digerati — a term referring to the elite of digitalization. Try it out on your company’s IT lead next time you see them. They may even blush at the compliment. [KC – Or don’t. They probably don’t care.]

Nagware

The old adage, “If it seems too good to be true, it probably is” is applicable to the downloading experience. If you’ve ever installed a seemingly free piece of software only to have it incessantly remind you through pop-ups or banners to actually install a paid version of the program, then you’ve encountered nagware. The name comes from the verb "nag"—meaning to bother or implore. [KC – I recently downloaded (and then deleted) a piece of nagware for a card game I like. I just wanted to buy it without ads. Instead, they said they only have a version with ads so they can make money. As I said, immediate deletion.
I’d rather pay $10 and be done with it for a year.]

Mouse Potato

Whether it’s long work weeks or online shopping sprees, the rise of computer culture keeps us chained to the mouse. Never mind being a couch potato; If you’re equally addicted to your laptop, you might earn the label of "mouse potato" instead. [KC – I like this one, though I’d call myself a “fingerling” potato since I usually use my tablet.]

These next two are a little rough, but I didn’t make them up. I’m trying to avoid the generational nastiness that sometimes shows up.

Screenager

Possibly said with the same tone as "Millennial" or "Gen Z", a "screenager" is a slightly derisive title applied to teens and 20-somethings with a penchant for computers, both in terms of time spent and tech savviness. It’s not limited to a specific generation, but a screenager could very well grow into a computer engineer or IT technician.

Vidiot

This slightly rude term combines the words "video" and "idiot" becoming somewhat synonymous with a "couch potato." Today it’s associated with YouTube or Netflix binging, but this word isn’t particularly new. It was first used in the 1940s, in reference to the rise of televisions in the home (and the people who became addicted to them).

That’s it for today. I’m calling it a self-care day to recover from the holiday.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Posted by: Jack Henry | August 29, 2024

Editor’s Corner: RAS Syndrome

Good morning. I think today is a good day for a chuckle, and I want to thank Jane G. for providing this one. It’s going to be short and sweet, and I hope it makes you smile.

I know a lot of you are frustrated with the redundancy of terms like the following:

  • PIN number (personal identification number number)
  • ATM machine (automated teller machine machine)
  • LCD display (liquid crystal display display)

Since the acronyms (PIN, ATM, LCD) include the final word (number, machine, display), there’s no need to repeat that final word when you mention the acronym—but as you know, many people do. And many other people are annoyed by it.

Well…according to the wacky editors at Dictionary.com, there’s a term for this redundant balderdash: RAS syndrome (redundant acronym syndrome syndrome). See what they did there? Ah, the humor. I don’t think most people appreciate how amusing editors can be.

For those of you who care, if you want to talk about personal identification numbers, call them PINs, not PIN numbers. Don’t be a redundant Rufus: talk about ATMs and LCDs, not ATM machines and LCD displays.

And if you want to see the Facebook® reel from Dictionary.com, click here.

I hope you enjoy a day of merry mirth.

Donna Bradley Burcher |Technical Editor, Advisory | jack henry

Pronouns she/her/hers

9660 Granite Ridge Drive, San Diego CA 92123

Symitar Education Resources (sharepoint.com)

About Editor’s Corner

Editor’s Corner keeps your communication skills sharp by providing information on grammar, punctuation, JHA style, and all things English. As editors, we spend our days reading, researching, and revising other people’s writing. We love to spend a few extra minutes to share what we learn with you and keep it fun while we’re doing it.

Did someone forward this email to you? Click here to subscribe.

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Posted by: Jack Henry | August 27, 2024

Editor’s Corner: Virtual Introductions

Dear Editrix,

I have taken over a new position, and I am dealing with new people daily. Every time I communicate with a new client or vendor, typically via email, I introduce myself by saying something like, “It was nice meeting you”…but that does not seem right, meeting is in person…no? One of my vendors said, “It was nice meeting you virtually,” but that seems awkward. Please advise!

Dear Reader,

How interesting! First, I’d say that you can “meet” someone in person, on the phone, over Teams™, and in other ways. Second, it is great that you are looking for a good, accurate way to be polite. Third, I found all kinds of information to share with you! I hope some of this information helps.

When I read your email, I thought “Nice to virtually meet you,” was a nice way to distinguish between in person and a virtual meeting, but then I read an article on Indeed.com, which provided some updated information on the phrases “Nice to e-meet you” and “Nice to virtually meet you.” It said that these phrases were common, but now many people consider them outdated and discourage their use.

I found another webpage that not only offered some alternatives, but it includes a tool that generates options for different phrases you type in. The article is:

11 Other Ways to Say "Nice to Meet You" in an Email (With Samples) (rontar.com)

Here is an excerpt:

The use of “nice to meet you” is suitable for emails to new colleagues, clients, or business contacts after a first meeting, phone call, or online interaction. [KC – Emphasis mine.] It works well in emails, which are a common communication channel for professional interactions. The formality of the email can be adjusted based on the relationship with the recipient and the context of your meeting.

If you’re okay with “It was nice to meet you,” here are some similar alternatives the article provides:

  • It was a pleasure meeting you
  • Pleased to meet you
  • It’s a pleasure to meet you
  • Glad to have met you
  • It was great connecting with you
  • Happy to meet you
  • Enjoyed meeting you
  • Good to have met you
  • Pleased to make your acquaintance
  • Glad we had the chance to meet
  • Delighted to make your acquaintance
  • Pleased to connect with you
  • It’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance
  • Delighted to engage with you
  • Glad to make your connection
  • Honored to meet you

And now for the generator tool: Alternatives Generator (rontar.com). It generates some of the outdated phrases, but you can choose what you like. I entered something like “Nice to meet you virtually” at the Original Phrase prompt, and it provided the following phrases:

  • Pleasure to connect online
  • Great to e-meet you
  • Delighted to meet you virtually
  • Happy to meet you through email
  • Wonderful to connect digitally
  • A pleasure to meet you virtually
  • Glad to connect with you online
  • Nice to meet you through this platform
  • Happy to make your acquaintance virtually
  • Enjoy connecting in this digital space
  • Pleased to e-connect with you
  • Nice connecting with you online
  • How lovely to meet you here
  • Thrilled to meet you remotely
  • Good to connect this way

You can enter other phrases, too. For example, enter “You behave like an ill-mannered child,” and you’ll get anything from “Your actions are not aligned with professional standards” (formal), to “Your manner could be more polished” (semi-formal), to “Your conduct is a bit inappropriate” (informal).

Check out the Alternatives Generator and see if it provides you with something you like more. Like the one article said, the references to “electronic” and “virtual” are a bit outdated. Like I say, being polite is always in style.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Posted by: Jack Henry | August 22, 2024

Editor’s Corner: Tchotchkes

Some days, I look at the Merriam-Webster word of the day and say, “that’s nice.” Other days, I click the link because I’m unfamiliar with the word and I want to know more. And still other days, I come across a word like this: tchotchke. Here’s M-W definition:

Tchotchke refers to a small object used for decoration. It’s a synonym of knickknack and trinket.

Now I know what a tchotchke is, but dang. Do I know how to spell it? No. I probably would have taken a stab at it and spelled it “chotchkey.” It’s one of those words that you hear more often than you see it spelled, or at least that’s the case for me.

So, in my reading about tchotchkes, I discovered some other words we have for miscellaneous junk and I thought I’d share them with you. I am including links to pronunciation for some of them.

· tchotchke (n.)ˈchäch-kə

knickknack, trinket

· knickknack (n.)

a small trivial article usually intended for ornament

· doodad (n.)

1: an ornamental attachment or decoration

2: an often small article whose common name is unknown or forgotten : gadget

· gewgaw (n.) ˈg(y)ü-(ˌ)gȯ

a showy trifle : bauble, trinket

· gimcrack (n.)ˈjim-ˌkrak

[KC – What you see when somebody’s athletic shorts fall down.]
M-W – a showy object of little use or value

· bauble (n.)

1: a small ornament (such as a jewel or ring)

2: a small article of equipment

3: a thing of little value : trifle

· trifle (n.)

something of little value, substance, or importance

· bibelot(n.)ˈbē-bə-ˌlō

a small household ornament or decorative object : trinket

· kickshaw

1: a fancy dish : delicacy

2: trinket, gewgaw

The background of kickshaw is kind of interesting because it is based on a late 16th century misunderstanding of the French term quelque chose which means “something.” More from M-W:

In line with the French pronunciation of the day, the "l" was dropped and the word was anglicized as "kickshaws" or "kickshoes." English speakers soon lost all consciousness of the word’s French origin and, by taking "kickshaws" as plural, created the new singular noun "kickshaw."

And some history on these many words for “a little something,” also from M-W:

Bauble appears to be the oldest among the group, with known evidence of usage dating back to the 14th century. The earliest available evidence of gewgaw and kickshaw is from the 16th century, whereas gimcrack and knickknack established themselves in the 17th century. Tchotchke, borrowed from Yiddish, is by far the most recent addition to our language, first appearing as an English word in the 20th century.

Well, there you have it. I know, I wander to and fro; it’s amazing I know where I am half of the time! Enjoy your day and try not to pick up too many tchotchkes!

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editor’s Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

Posted by: Jack Henry | August 20, 2024

Editor’s Corner: Animal Delusions

A few weeks ago, I received an email from A.Word.A.Day with the title Lycanthropy. Well, Ive been encouraged by a husband or two, to watch a few werewolf, vampire, alien, Godzilla, hobbit, etc., movies in my time, so I knew a lycanthrope was a werewolf. I think its a good time to look at a few more animal delusion words from the Lycanthropy article, and some more terms and etymologies from my beloved Online Etymology Dictionary.

lycanthropy (noun)
1. A delusion that one has transformed into a wolf.
2. The process of or ability to transform into a wolf.

From Greek lykos (wolf) + -anthropy (human). Earliest documented use: 1584.

cynanthropy (noun)

A delusion in which one believes oneself to be a dog.

From Greek kyon (dog) + -anthropy (human). Earliest documented use: 1594.

And then A.Word.A.Day offers a few more with just the word and the type of animal youd be transforming into:

  • boanthropy: cow or ox
  • cervanthropy: deer
  • hippanthropy: horse
  • zoanthropy: animal

The author ends the article, but thats where I decided to continue a bit with some other words we might hear in the news or community. These are from me and the etymology site (above) with a little editing to match the previous formatting.

philanthropy (noun): goodwill to fellow members of the human race

especially : active effort to promote human welfare

From Greek phil (loving) + anthros (mankind)

philogyny (noun)

Love or admiration of women

From Greek phil (loving) + gyn/i> (woman) From 1620

And since were looking at phil- lets have a look at Philadelphia!

Philadelphia (noun)City in Pennsylvania between the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers

From Greek, taken by William Penn to mean "brotherly love."

From philos "loving" (see philo-) + adelphos "brother"

misanthropy (noun)

Hatred of mankind

From Greek misos (hatred) + anthropos (man). Earliest documented use: 1683.

misogyny (noun)

Hatred of women

From Greek miso- (hatred) + gyn/i> (woman). From 1650.

apanthropy (noun)

A desire to be away from people; a love of solitude.

From Greek apo- (away) + -anthropy (human). Earliest documented use: 1753.

Whoa. That got a little heavy. I just love etymologies, though, because the little bits and pieces of words you learn can be put together with other bits, and sometimes thats all you need to figure out what a new word means! English is fascinating!

And from What We Do in the Shadows (2014) – IMDb the movie, my favorite line:

Some silly, fun work from New Zealanders Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi.

Kara Church | Technical Editor, Advisory | Technical Publications

Pronouns: she/her | Call via Teams | jackhenry.com

Editors Corner Archives: https://episystechpubs.com/

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