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With 2025 is all set to arrive, Samsung is one of the first choices for a smartphone enthusiast. The series of Galaxy offers a wide array of models, from high-end flagships to budget-friendly options. For someone looking to upgrade, finding the best Samsung Galaxy deals has never been more important. Whether it’s through trade-in offers, seasonal promotions, or discounts from carriers, there are plenty of ways to save on the latest Samsung Galaxy smartphones. This article highlights the best deals available in 2025, helping customers make informed purchasing decisions. Samsung's flagship Galaxy S and Galaxy Z series is still among the most wanted devices up to 2025. These high-end models give users the latest technology, ranging from foldable screens and high-end cameras to powerful processors. It is the best for high-performance seekers with the Galaxy S25 Ultra. Retailers provide discounts usually during major sales events: Black Friday , Cyber Monday, and Samsung's annual event, Galaxy Unpacked. For those looking to purchase the Galaxy Z Fold 5, many packages come with free accessories such as Galaxy Buds or the Galaxy Watch . Monitoring official stores and online retailers helps win these top flagship deals for a fraction of the money. For users in need of mid-range or budget-friendly options, Samsung's Galaxy A series offers great value. The best choices include the Samsung Galaxy A75 and Galaxy A54 models, which blend performance with affordability. Most retailers often offer promotions for these models, especially during holidays or back-to-school season. These deals usually include discounts or incentives like extended warranties or credits in the store. The Galaxy A series phones deliver solid battery life, decent cameras, and smooth performance at more accessible price points, making them a great choice for budget-conscious consumers. Samsung's trade-in program is one of the best ways to save on a new Galaxy device. In 2025, Samsung continues to offer generous trade-in values for older Galaxy models, as well as devices from other manufacturers. Trading in an older smartphone may make upgrading to a new flagship model, like the Galaxy S25 or Galaxy Z Flip 5, incredibly cheap. Samsung even sometimes gives more credits towards accessories or service plans. Some offers come in specific flavors like student discounts and military promotions that may stack on top of existing promotions to save buyers money. Mobile carriers often offer special deals on Samsung Galaxy devices when customers switch to their network or sign up for a new contract. Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile offer no-interest installment plans, making it easier to afford the latest models like the Samsung Galaxy S25+. Many of the carriers also bundle their plans with discounts on accessories, trade-in offers, or even free upgrades. Checking carrier promotions before purchasing can lead to significant savings, especially for those willing to commit to a service contract. These deals vary by location and provider, so it’s essential to compare offerings from different carriers. Finding the best Samsung Galaxy deals in 2025 requires a combination of timing and research. Deep discounts during the biggest sales events of Black Friday, Cyber Monday, and New Year's should be capitalized on. Alerts from Samsung and the big players help no opportunity slip away. Moreover, offers from carriers, retailers, and the Samsung site may have differences, including special discounts that can only be found there. Getting some money back on the device with a trade-in or saving through loyalty points increases savings. Additional, refurbished or certified pre-owned versions of Galaxy devices come usually with a warranty and the price significantly reduced for any long-term savings. The best Samsung Galaxy 2025 deals have deep saving percentages applied to flagships as well as budget models. Several discounts, trade-in opportunities as well as deals from the carrier help every customer to find a discount program that works best for that customer. Flagship versions of the device, such as Galaxy S25 Ultra or the foldable variants are for those high-tech folks and for more budget-conscious clients who have other options - namely, Galaxy A series. The recent customer can now get that all-new Samsung Galaxy under relatively competitive pricing by buying at the right sale season or selecting from diverse package deals.
KILLINGTON, Vt. (AP) — American skier Mikaela Shiffrin said she suffered an abrasion on her left hip and that something “stabbed” her when she crashed during her second run of a World Cup giant slalom race Saturday, doing a flip and sliding into the protective fencing. Shiffrin stayed down on the edge of the course for quite some time as the ski patrol attended to her. She was taken off the hill on a sled and waved to the cheering crowd before going to a clinic for evaluation. “Not really too much cause for concern at this point, I just can’t move,” she said later in a video posted on social media . “I have a pretty good abrasion and something stabbed me. ... I’m so sorry to scare everybody. It looks like all scans so far are clear.” She plans to skip the slalom race Sunday, writing on Instagram she will be “cheering from the sideline.” The 29-year-old was leading after the first run of the GS and charging for her 100th World Cup win. She was within sight of the finish line, five gates onto Killington’s steep finish pitch, when she an outside edge. She hit a gate and did a somersault before sliding into another gate. The fencing slowed her momentum as she came to an abrupt stop. Reigning Olympic GS champion Sara Hector of Sweden won in a combined time of 1 minute, 53.08 seconds. Zrinka Ljutic of Croatia was second and Swiss racer Camille Rast took third. The Americans saw Paula Moltzan and Nina O’Brien finish fifth and sixth. “It’s just so sad, of course, to see Mikaela crash like that and skiing so well,” Hector said on the broadcast after her win. “It breaks my heart and everybody else here.” The crash was a surprise for everyone. Shiffrin rarely DNFs — ski racing parlance for “did not finish.” In 274 World Cup starts, she DNF'd only 18 times. The last time she DNF'd in GS was January 2018. Shiffrin also has not suffered any devastating injuries. In her 14-year career, she has rehabbed only two on-hill injuries: a torn medial collateral ligament and bone bruising in her right knee in December 2015 and a sprained MCL and tibiofibular ligament in her left knee after a downhill crash in January 2024. Neither knee injury required surgery, and both times, Shiffrin was back to racing within two months. Saturday was shaping up to be a banner day for Shiffrin, who skied flawlessly in the first run and held a 0.32-second lead as she chased after her 100th World Cup win. Shiffrin, who grew up in both New Hampshire and Colorado and sharpened her skills at nearby Burke Mountain Academy, has long been a fan favorite. Shiffrin is driven not so much by wins but by arcing the perfect run. She has shattered so many records along the way. She passed Lindsey Vonn’s women’s mark of 82 World Cup victories on Jan. 24, 2023, during a giant slalom in Kronplatz, Italy. That March, Shiffrin broke Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark’s Alpine mark for most World Cup wins when she captured her 87th career race. To date, she has earned five overall World Cup titles, two Olympic gold medals — along with a silver — and seven world championships. In other FIS Alpine World Cup news, the Tremblant World Cup — two women’s giant slaloms at Quebec’s Mont-Tremblant scheduled for next weekend — were canceled. Killington got 21 inches of snow on Thanksgiving Day, but Tremblant — five hours north of Killington — had to cancel its races because of a lack of snow. AP Sports Writer Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report. More AP skiing: https://apnews.com/hub/alpine-skiing
It's 4-and-a-half stories high, 45-metres long and "a hell of a lot of fun". Subscribe now for unlimited access . Login or signup to continue reading All articles from our website & app The digital version of Today's Paper Breaking news alerts direct to your inbox Interactive Crosswords, Sudoku and Trivia All articles from the other regional websites in your area Continue Canberra's newest - and biggest - slip 'n' slide is here. Local businesswoman Ally Sweeney has brought the slide to Canberra from China as a permanent attraction in the national capital. The huge, inflatable Kami Kaze Slide has arrived in Canberra. Pictures supplied It'll have water in the hot months and be dry in the cooler months. Its name? The Kami Kazi Slide, of course. Ally said all the uncertainty around the Big Splash water park in Macquarie had persuaded her to unleash the Kami Kazi earlier than she had planned. The slide will be available for hire. The slide will be available for hire. "With a launch planned for much later in the season, due to the circumstances with Big Splash and the community interest we have decided to soft launch the Kami Kaze Slide sooner rather than later," she said. "With water included for the summer; and dry in the cooler months, the slide will be operational and for hire all year round. "This is the first one of its kind in the region and the first to arrive in the ACT." Ally Sweeney has brought it to Canberra. Stay tuned for more details. "As we are sorting out the finer details about locations, collaborations and exact ACT government requirements and compliance we will release the full details in the new year once confirmed," Ally said. "Our aim in bringing the slide to Canberra was to reignite the community activities and old school fun that is lacking in Canberra. "With more and more facilities closing and being bought out, Canberra's activities for young people and families are dwindling. "We are hoping to reignite some childhood magic and memories for families." Share Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Copy Megan Doherty Journalist I like telling local stories and celebrating Canberra. Email: megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au I like telling local stories and celebrating Canberra. Email: megan.doherty@canberratimes.com.au More from Canberra That's not a slide - this is a slide 15m ago Queanbeyan hero honoured at the Australian War Memorial 15m ago No comment s I'm overcome by a sense of escape and elation. Vincent feels it too 15m ago No comment s Thunder's top Billings: Canberra fan gets cool Manuka memento No comment s 'Tried to cheat the process': Kyrgios doubles down on criticism of world No.1 No comment s Police identify three youths after 'suspicious' bushfire in northern Canberra Newsletters & Alerts View all DAILY Your morning news Today's top stories curated by our news team. Also includes evening update. Loading... WEEKDAYS The lunch break Grab a quick bite of today's latest news from around the region and the nation. Loading... DAILY Sport The latest news, results & expert analysis. Loading... WEEKDAYS The evening wrap Catch up on the news of the day and unwind with great reading for your evening. Loading... WEEKLY Note from the Editor Get the editor's insights: what's happening & why it matters. Loading... WEEKLY FootyHQ Love footy? We've got all the action covered. Loading... DAILY Early Look At David Pope Your exclusive preview of David Pope's latest cartoon. Loading... AS IT HAPPENS Public Service News Don't miss updates on news about the Public Service. Loading... WEEKLY Explore Travel Every Saturday and Tuesday, explore destinations deals, tips & travel writing to transport you around the globe. Loading... WEEKLY Property Get the latest property and development news here. Loading... WEEKLY What's On Going out or staying in? Find out what's on. Loading... WEEKLY Weekend Reads We've selected the best reading for your weekend. Loading... WEEKLY Times Reader's Panel Join our weekly poll for Canberra Times readers. Loading... WEEKDAYS The Echidna Sharp. Close to the ground. Digging deep. Your weekday morning newsletter on national affairs, politics and more. Loading... TWICE WEEKLY The Informer Your essential national news digest: all the big issues on Wednesday and great reading every Saturday. Loading... WEEKLY Motoring Get news, reviews and expert insights every Thursday from CarExpert, ACM's exclusive motoring partner. Loading... TWICE WEEKLY Voice of Real Australia Get real, Australia! Let the ACM network's editors and journalists bring you news and views from all over. Loading... AS IT HAPPENS Breaking news alert Be the first to know when news breaks. Loading... DAILY Today's Paper Alert Your digital replica of Today's Paper. Ready to read from 5am! Loading... DAILY Your favourite puzzles Test your skills with interactive crosswords, sudoku & trivia. Fresh daily! Loading...
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CHICAGO — With a wave of her bangled brown fingertips to the melody of flutes and chimes, artist, theologian and academic Tricia Hersey enchanted a crowd into a dreamlike state of rest at Semicolon Books on North Michigan Avenue. “The systems can’t have you,” Hersey said into the microphone, reading mantras while leading the crowd in a group daydreaming exercise on a recent Tuesday night. The South Side native tackles many of society’s ills — racism, patriarchy, aggressive capitalism and ableism — through an undervalued yet impactful action: rest. Hersey, the founder of a movement called the Nap Ministry, dubs herself the Nap Bishop and spreads her message to over half a million followers on her Instagram account, @thenapministry . Her first book, “Rest Is Resistance: A Manifesto,” became a New York Times bestseller in 2022, but Hersey has been talking about rest online and through her art for nearly a decade. Hersey, who has degrees in public health and divinity, originated the “rest as resistance” and “rest as reparations” frameworks after experimenting with rest as an exhausted graduate student in seminary. Once she started napping, she felt happier and her grades improved. But she also felt more connected to her ancestors; her work was informed by the cultural trauma of slavery that she was studying as an archivist. Hersey described the transformation as “life-changing.” The Nap Ministry began as performance art in 2017, with a small installation where 40 people joined Hersey in a collective nap. Since then, her message has morphed into multiple mediums and forms. Hersey, who now lives in Atlanta, has hosted over 100 collective naps, given lectures and facilitated meditations across the country. She’s even led a rest ritual in the bedroom of Jane Addams , and encourages her followers to dial in at her “Rest Hotline.” At Semicolon, some of those followers and newcomers came out to see Hersey in discussion with journalist Natalie Moore on Hersey’s latest book, “We Will Rest! The Art of Escape,” released this month, and to learn what it means to take a moment to rest in community. Moore recalled a time when she was trying to get ahead of chores on a weeknight. “I was like, ‘If I do this, then I’ll have less to do tomorrow.’ But then I was really tired,” Moore said. “I thought, ‘What would my Nap Bishop say? She would say go lay down.’ Tricia is in my head a lot.” At the event, Al Kelly, 33, of Rogers Park, said some of those seated in the crowd of mostly Black women woke up in tears — possibly because, for the first time, someone permitted them to rest. “It was so emotional and allowed me to think creatively about things that I want to work on and achieve,” Kelly said. Shortly after the program, Juliette Viassy, 33, a program manager who lives in the South Loop and is new to Hersey’s work, said this was her first time meditating after never being able to do it on her own. Therapist Lyndsei Howze, 33, of Printers Row, who was also seated at the book talk, said she recommends Hersey’s work “to everybody who will listen” — from her clients to her own friends. “A lot of mental health conditions come from lack of rest,” she said. “They come from exhaustion.” Before discovering Hersey’s work this spring, Howze said she and her friends sporadically napped together in one friend’s apartment after an exhausting workweek. “It felt so good just to rest in community,” she said. On Hersey’s book tour, she is leading exercises like this across the country. “I think we need to collectively do this,” Hersey explained. “We need to learn again how to daydream because we’ve been told not to do it. I don’t think most people even have a daydreaming practice.” Daydreaming, Hersey said, allows people to imagine a new world. Hersey tells her followers that yes, you can rest, even when your agenda is packed, even between caregiving, commuting, jobs, bills, emails and other daily demands. And you don’t have to do it alone. There is a community of escape artists, she said of the people who opt out of grind and hustle culture, waiting to embrace you. The book is part pocket prayer book, part instruction manual, with art and handmade typography by San Francisco-based artist George McCalman inspired by 19th-century abolitionist pamphlets, urging readers to reclaim their divine right to rest. Hersey directs her readers like an operative with instructions for a classified mission. “Let grind culture know you are not playing around,” she wrote in her book. “This is not a game or time to shrink. Your thriving depends on the art of escape.” The reluctance to rest can be rooted in capitalist culture presenting rest as a reward for productivity instead of a physical and mental necessity. Hersey deconstructs this idea of grind culture, which she says is rooted in the combined effects of white supremacy, patriarchy and capitalism that “look at the body as not human.” American culture encourages grind culture, Hersey said, but slowing down and building a ritual of rest can offset its toxicity. The author eschews the ballooning billion-dollar self-care industry that encourages people to “save enough money and time off from work to fly away to an expensive retreat,” she wrote. Instead, she says rest can happen anywhere you have a place to be comfortable: in nature, on a yoga mat, in the car between shifts, on a cozy couch after work. Resting isn’t just napping either. She praises long showers, sipping warm tea, playing music, praying or numerous other relaxing activities that slow down the body. “We’re in a crisis mode of deep sleep deprivation, deep lack of self-worth, (and) mental health,” said Hersey. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data from 2022 , in Illinois about 37% of adults aren’t getting the rest they need at night. If ignored, the effects of sleep deprivation can have bigger implications later, Hersey said. In October, she lectured at a sleep conference at Gustavus Adolphus College in Minnesota, where her humanities work was featured alongside research from the world’s top neuroscientists. Jennifer Mundt, a Northwestern clinician and professor of sleep medicine, psychiatry and behavioral sciences, praises Hersey for bringing the issue of sleep and rest to the public. In a Tribune op-ed last year, Mundt argued that our culture focuses too heavily on sleep as something that must be earned rather than a vital aspect of health and that linking sleep to productivity is harmful and stigmatizing. “Linking sleep and productivity is harmful because it overshadows the bevy of other reasons to prioritize sleep as an essential component of health,” Mundt wrote. “It also stigmatizes groups that are affected by sleep disparities and certain chronic sleep disorders.” In a 30-year longitudinal study released in the spring by the New York University School of Social Work, people who worked long hours and late shifts reported the lowest sleep quality and lowest physical and mental functions, and the highest likelihood of reporting poor health and depression at age 50. The study also showed that Black men and women with limited education “were more likely than others to shoulder the harmful links between nonstandard work schedules and sleep and health, worsening their probability of maintaining and nurturing their health as they approach middle adulthood.” The CDC links sleeping fewer than seven hours a day to an increased risk of obesity, diabetes, hypertension, heart disease and more. Although the Nap Ministry movement is new for her followers, Hersey’s written about her family’s practice of prioritizing rest, which informs her work. Her dad was a community organizer, a yardmaster for the Union Pacific Railroad Co. and an assistant pastor. Before long hours of work, he would dedicate hours each day to self-care. Hersey also grew up observing her grandma meditate for 30 minutes daily. Through rest, Hersey said she honors her ancestors who were enslaved and confronts generational trauma. When “Rest Is Resistance” was released in 2022, Americans were navigating a pandemic and conversations on glaring racial disparities. “We Will Rest!” comes on the heels of a historic presidential election where Black women fundraised for Vice President Kamala Harris and registered voters in a dizzying three-month campaign. Following Harris’ defeat, many of those women are finding self-care and preservation even more important. “There are a lot of Black women announcing how exhausted they are,” Moore said. “This could be their entry point to get to know (Hersey’s) work, which is bigger than whatever political wind is blowing right now.” Hersey said Chicagoans can meet kindred spirits in her environment of rest. Haji Healing Salon, a wellness center, and the social justice-focused Free Street Theater are sites where Hersey honed her craft and found community. In the fall, the theater put on “Rest/Reposo,” a performance featuring a community naptime outdoors in McKinley Park and in its Back of the Yards space. Haji is also an apothecary and hosts community healing activities, sound meditations and yoga classes. “It is in Bronzeville; it’s a beautiful space owned by my friend Aya,” Hersey said, explaining how her community has helped her build the Nap Ministry. “When I first started the Nap Ministry, before I was even understanding what it was, she was like, come do your work here.” “We Will Rest!” is a collection of poems, drawings and short passages. In contrast to her first book, Hersey said she leaned more into her artistic background; the art process alone took 18 months to complete. After a tough year for many, she considers it medicine for a “sick and exhausted” world. “It’s its own sacred document,” Hersey said. “It’s something that, if you have it in your library and you have it with you, you may feel more human.” lazu@chicagotribune.comAU Deals: Pay Low Coins for Super Mario and Reduced Rupees for a Zelda, Hot Humble Bundles, and More!
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Calls for government to legalise 'natural Valium' after King's encounter with ceremonial calming drink during trip to Samoa By PADRAIC FLANAGAN Published: 17:47 EST, 30 November 2024 | Updated: 17:54 EST, 30 November 2024 e-mail View comments Campaigners are calling on the Government to legalise a substance dubbed nature’s Valium after it apparently won a royal seal of approval. King Charles was seen sipping ceremonial drink kava – which is said to induce a calm, euphoric state – during his visit to Samoa in October, though it is banned in the UK. The substance was outlawed in 2003 due to links to around 30 cases of liver damage in Europe, including one death. It is also banned or restricted in Australia, Canada , Germany , Japan and Switzerland. But Dr Simon Geller, from the Kava Coalition, says it is time for the UK to ‘take the lead’ in reinstating the drink for its health benefits. He said: ‘If it’s safe enough for the King, isn’t it time to reconsider its prohibition for everyone else?’ Made from the roots of the kava plant, it is drunk in the South Seas for medicinal, political and cultural purposes. It is also used to treat stress, anxiety and insomnia. Campaigners are calling on the Government to legalise Kava as King Charles was seen sipping the ceremonial drink in Samoa in October Kava, which is an outlawed substance in the UK, is said to induce a calm, euphoric state Made from the roots of the kava plant, it is drunk in the South Seas for medicinal, political and cultural purposes. It is also used to treat stress, anxiety and insomnia Japan Canada Germany Share or comment on this article: Calls for government to legalise 'natural Valium' after King's encounter with ceremonial calming drink during trip to Samoa e-mail Add comment
'We've been through an incredible transition' - O'Neil 'won't give up'BDA Advises NSSK on Sale of JEC to Obara GroupEditorial: Rental assistance has expired, so Oklahoma must do more to prevent evictionsMillions displaced by global conflicts. Communities reeling from natural disasters. Lives upended because of health care inequalities. In the middle of these crises are established nonprofits, everyday individuals and mutual aid groups — all seeking your dollars to make a difference. With no shortage of worthy causes and the rise of new giving technologies, how should you donate? The choices can be immobilizing. Many people value conventional charities but others — Gen Z and millennials, as well as the unmarried and less religious, according to 2021 research by the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy — like to crowdfund by pooling donations online for folks in dire circumstances. “It’s really: what is the right type of support that either an organization or a community or an individual needs?” said Bloomerang Chief Customer Officer Todd Baylis, who co-founded the platform Qgiv to help nonprofits fundraise online. “And being able to tailor that to the individual giver.” Here are some questions worth considering. It might come down to whether you want to make a big difference for one person or help seed large-scale change. Tiltify is a technology platform that helps nonprofits and individual crowdfunders raise money. If donors want to ensure food gets to communities recovering from disasters, Tiltify CEO Michael Wasserman says a nonprofit contribution is probably best, as established organizations already have distribution pipelines and expertise. If you want to ensure a particular person can take care of themselves, he said, a direct donation to a crowdfunding campaign might make more sense than sending money “through a charitable funnel.” You could do both at once, according to one nonprofit that delivers cash transfers. GiveDirectly reports sending more than $860 million to 1.6 million people across three continents. Senior Program Manager Richard Nkurunziza says the idea initially was met with fears of misuse, but GiveDirectly finds that cash donations are a dignified way to empower people to invest in their unique needs. In Rwandan villages, he said, recipients spent donations on household renovations, new businesses and youth education — all of which benefit their entire community. “There’s a bit of agency,” he said. “It gives an opportunity for the recipient to make a decision on how they use the funds for themselves.” Crowdfunding could be considered “more democratic,” according to Claire van Teunenbroek, a University of Twente professor specializing in online giving behavior. Donors have more control over their gifts’ usage when they choose who benefits. The disadvantage, she said, is that people with the greatest needs aren’t always the ones with the most success. Humans are prone to supporting “easily sellable” projects with highly emotional appeals, and studies showed racial disparities in crowdfunding. The most popular reason donors told Bloomerang they stopped giving was because they did not trust contributions were used wisely, according to the company’s Generational Giving Report. The second most common response was that donors no longer felt connected to the nonprofit. The answers underscore the need for recipients to actively prove their trustworthiness. Tax-exempt nonprofits must submit annual financial disclosures to the Internal Revenue Service that include publicly available information, including executives’ salaries. Watchdogs, such as Charity Navigator, compile lists of verified nonprofits and assess their work. Crowdfunding is much more susceptible to fraud. The online sites are relatively unregulated, leaving the responsibility for protection up to donors and the platforms themselves. In GoFundMe’s case, donations can be refunded up to one year after they are made. The company advises that organizers identify themselves and their beneficiaries, and specify their plans for spending contributions. Online users mistakenly associate high donation numbers with credibility, van Teunenbroek said. She said risk is better mitigated by making sure the project’s description is detailed. “For a donor, if you prefer more certainty, then traditional nonprofits are probably better because they have an established reputation,” she said. ALSAC CEO Rick Shadyac said his charity works hard to make donors feel confident that their money is supporting the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital: improving pediatric cancer survival rates worldwide by covering the costs of care and researching treatments. He urges people to give regardless of the medium and to always look for reputable causes. Bonafide charities, he said, bring “greater degrees of confidence” while crowdfunding requires more “due diligence.” Still, he sees room for both. ALSAC gets nearly one-quarter of its annual revenue during the last two months of the calendar, Shadyac said, the time of year designated “Giving Season.” The uptick could stem from the spirit of generosity around the holidays, he added. A 2023 study found that people in good moods are more likely to make a charitable donation. They also might be making year-end tax plans. “Not-for-profits give them the opportunity to address some things that are important to them while also getting a tax deduction,” Shadyac said. Crowdfunding donations to individual campaigns, however, cannot be written off on your taxes. Mutual aid refers to reciprocal support networks of neighbors who meet each other’s most pressing needs when existing systems fail. Participants often describe the act as “solidarity, not charity.” These groups often solicit cash contributions through online payment processors like Venmo, Cash App, PayPal or Zelle. Anyone can scan QR codes, which are usually shared on social media, to donate. The money goes straight to those impacted or helps purchase supplies for shared community resources. Transparency might come in the form of a receipt shared by organizers. Tamara Kneese joined mutual aid efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic to take care of her neighbors in Oakland. Kneese, a director at the nonprofit research institute Data & Society, said these groups tend to start as immediate responses to crises hurting disadvantaged communities. The idea, she added, is “state abandonment cannot be addressed by charitable giving alone.” “It is not just a sense of charity, like you make a donation and you’re done,” she said. “There is more of a relationship involved and it is not just transactional.” Get local news delivered to your inbox!
It's been ten years since Brandon McMillan suited up for a game in the National Hockey League, but he's been spending the last decade in Europe, primarily in the KHL. Last season, the Richmond, British Columbia native played for KHL club Kunlun Red Star, putting up 20 points in 43 games and at the end of the year, he was not re-signed, making him a free agent. Given that McMillan turned 34 as Kunlun Red Star's season was coming to an end, it was unclear what the future held for him and if he would continue to play over in Europe or even hang up the skates. After spending all summer and the first few months of the 2024-25 season as a free agent, Brandon McMillan has found a new home, albeit on a temporary basis for now. DEL club Schwenninger Wild Wings signs Brandon McMillan On Monday, the Schwenninger Wild Wings announced that they've agreed to terms on a professional tryout contract (PTO) with former NHLer Brandon McMillan. The Wild Wings shared that because of an delay in the return of Norwegian hockey legend Ken Andre Olimb, the team decided to search for immediate help and identified Brandon McMillan as someone they wanted to bring in. 'Brandon signaled to us directly that he would like to play for us and his willingness to initially sign a tryout contract shows that he feels physically ready.' Wild Wings managing director Stefan Wagner said. Brandon McMillan's National Hockey League career McMillan was a third-round pick, 85th overall, of the Anaheim Ducks in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft, going on to spent 171 games in the National Hockey League with them, the Phoenix/Arizona Coyotes and the Vancouver Canucks. In February 2015, with the Vancouver Canucks searching for some depth, then-General Manager Jim Benning claimed Brandon McMillan off waivers from the Arizona Coyotes. In five regular season and two Stanley Cup Playoff games with the Vancouver Canucks, McMillan had two points (one goal, one assist), four penalty minutes and was a plus-three. After the 2014-15 season, the Vancouver Canucks decided not to issue a qualifying offer to Brandon McMillan, making him an unrestricted free agent where he'd go on to sign Ingolstadt ERC in the German DEL. This article first appeared on Canucks Daily and was syndicated with permission.