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| | Dose Of News Useful TodayWednesday, November 27th |
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| | The Gravy Train
| Good morning, and happy Thanksgiving Eve. What’s the strangest thing you’ve seen on the subway? Here’s wishing it’s as heartwarming as the scene on a New York L-train Sunday night, where a group of riders prepared a Thanksgiving feast for their fellow unsuspecting passengers, complete with turkey, mashed potatoes, and yams. Along the same vein, we’d like to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. We’ll be taking the rest of the week off (try not to cry too hard) - but we’ll be back in your inbox Monday morning. |
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Daily Sprinkle | “Honest criticism is hard to take, particularly from a relative, a friend, an acquaintance, or a stranger.” – Franklin P. Jones |
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 | The Race to the White House | What's been going on?The fifth presidential debate took place last Wednesday, where 10 Democratic hopefuls took the stage in Atlanta, Georgia (recap). On Sunday, former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg officially entered the Democratic race - the billionaire said he is not accepting donations and will self-fund his campaign, which disqualifies him from participating in the Democratic debates under the current ruleset. What’s next?
Six candidates have already qualified for the sixth and final debate of 2019, scheduled for December 19 in Los Angeles. Six more debates are scheduled to take place in 2020, and will run concurrently with Democratic primaries and caucuses in U.S. states and territories from February through June. The nominee will be officially announced at the Democratic National Convention in July. What do the polls say?
Here’s where the frontrunners stand according to the latest polls from Quinnipiac, Politico/Morning Consult, Emerson, and Economist/YouGov: Biden: 24 (Quinnipiac), 30 (Politico), 27 (Emerson), 30 (Economist)
Sanders: 13, 21, 27, 12
Warren: 14, 15, 20, 22
Buttigieg: 16, 9, 7, 9 So...what are people saying? |
| | | Questions about the rating system we use?
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 | Feds Open Opioid InvestigationFederal prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into potential violations of the Controlled Substance Act by pharmaceutical companies regarding opiate painkillers. At least six companies have confirmed receiving grand-jury subpoenas from a U.S. attorney’s office in New York. | |
Impeachment UpdateThe three House committees involved in the presidential impeachment inquiry released two more transcripts of closed-door testimony yesterday from Office of Management and Budget official Mark Sandy and acting assistant secretary of State responsible for European affairs Philip Reeker. | |
A New CA fireOn Monday night, a fire broke out in California’s Los Padres National Forest near Santa Barbara, and had grown to more than 4,300 acres in size as of last night. Officials said the Cave Fire, named after a nearby road, was 10% contained as of late Tuesday afternoon. | |
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 | Changing gearsFitness company SoulCycle announced the resignation of CEO Melanie Whelan yesterday, a position she held since 2015. CFO Sunder Reddy will assume the position on an interim basis as the company searches for a permanent replacement for Whelan, who will also vacate her position on the company’s board of directors. | | CNBC → |
If you can’t Beat ‘em…Facebook has agreed to acquire gaming studio Beat Games - makers of virtual reality rhythm game Beat Saber - for an undisclosed amount. The VR-based company will become a part of FB’s gaming group Oculus Studios, but will reportedly keep operating independently. | | The Verge → |
No More Mr. Nice GuyOn Tuesday, Xerox CEO John Visentin announced plans to turn the company’s $33.5 billion buyout of HP hostile. In a letter to HP’s board, Visentin said he will engage directly with their shareholders to drum up support for the offer, which HP’s board of directors unanimously rejected earlier this month. | | TechCrunch → |
My name is HOVA Reuters report analyzing Chicago’s ride-sharing fare data found that prices for shared rides have risen significantly over the past year, while fares for single riders have remained stable. The Chicago data, collected by local law, does not differentiate between ride-sharing companies, though experts estimate Uber commands over two-thirds of the city’s market share. | | Reuters → |
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 | You Give Love A Good NameIn Red Bank, New Jersey a humble restaurant glows in the early evening, offering warmth to all those who seek a good meal. JBJ Soul Kitchen provides a menu complete with delicious farm-to-table dishes that are available to anyone, regardless of financial ability. Dorothea Hurley came up with the idea of JBJ Soul Kitchen, which was created with the purpose of being able to serve anyone who walked through its doors. Her husband, musician Jon Bon Jovi, was on board and is a co-founder of the establishment. There are no prices on the menu, instead, each diner who is able to give is asked for a $20 donation to cover the cost of their meal and someone else’s, insuring that those who are in need can have a warm meal with no questions asked. JBJ Soul Kitchen is what happens when a community comes together to provide for the greater good - the restaurant is staffed by volunteers, not employees, and most of the food is donated. In another attempt at giving back, the creators of JBJ Soul Kitchen are opening a new location at Rutgers University. The goal is to be able to provide a delicious, nutritious meal to students who might be struggling to eat well because of a lack of funds and time. Bon Jovi says it gives him a sense of fulfillment to be able to provide meals for others. “That’s why I say the way to feel good is to do good. Find your good and do it.” | | CBS Sunday Morning → |
Roll ModelThe City of Kyle, Texas recently approved Phase 2 of Ash Pavilion - a multi-use public, concrete roller hockey rink – to fulfill the wish of a 10 year-old child.
Ash was born with a congenital heart defect, and has undergone more than 20 procedures in his life. Ash used to live in Colorado, but after he was diagnosed the family had to move to a lower altitude to accommodate Ash’s condition. They chose Kyle, TX because of its tight-knit community that came together to make his wish come true. Through a partnership with Make-A-Wish Central & South Texas and the City of Kyle, Ash’s hockey rink was approved for construction.
“It’s wonderful getting children involved in things that impact their future,” said Mayor Pro Team Dex Ellison in the November 5th City Council meeting. “You are an inspiration to us all – your heart is bigger than the body it is in.” | |
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Dose of Action |  | Wishes have proven physical and emotional benefits that can give children with critical illnesses a higher chance of survival. And wishes not only help these children – they also have far-reaching, positive impacts on their families and communities.
We’ve known anecdotally about the transformational power of a wish, and now a first-of-its-kind study is opening the door to possibilities of medical and financial benefits. Nationwide Children’s Hospital examined quality of life and health care utilization among patients who received a wish and a control group who did not. The study found patients who were granted a wish were more likely to have fewer unplanned hospital and emergency department visits. For children who are battling a critical illness, a wish can give them and their families the chance to believe anything is possible.
However, there is a tremendous gap between the number of wishes we're granting today and the number of wishes we need to grant in the future to achieve our vision of granting every eligible child’s wish. In the central and south Texas territory, 40 counties in total, there are an estimated 550 children diagnosed with a critical illness each year, and we are currently able to grant close to 300 wishes per year. As we celebrate our 35th anniversary as a local nonprofit, we have hopes of raising more funds to increase our wish granting capacity. Join a caring community of people who improve the lives of children battling critical illnesses.
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