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2024 Holiday Bike Giveaway – Vandenberg Space Force Base


A family receives their new bicycles during the Holiday Bike Giveaway in Lompoc, Calif., Dec. 14, 2024. Members of the Village dirtbags partnered with Main Street Cycles and the 30th Force Support Squadron’s Military and Family and Readiness Center, giving away 100 bicycles to families of military members. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olga Houtsma)
Members of the Village Dirtbags participate in helping children pick out their helmets during the Holiday Bike Giveaway in Lompoc, Calif., Dec. 14, 2024. The Village Dirtbags members worked with Main Street Cycles and the 30th Force Support Squadron’s Military and Family and Readiness Center, giving away 100 bicycles to families of military members. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olga Houtsma)
United States Space Force Col. Mark Shoemaker, Space Launch Delta 30 commander (left), Mary Shoemaker, SLD 30 commander’s wife (center), and Santa Claus, Worldwide cheer bringer (right), pose for photo during the Holiday Bike Giveaway in Lompoc, Calif., Dec. 14, 2024. Members of the 30th Force Support Squadron’s Military and Family and Readiness Center and the Village Dirtbags hosted the giveaway for families of military members to ride their new bicycles and meet Santa. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olga Houtsma)
Members of the Village Dirtbags participate in helping children pick out their bikes during the Holiday Bike Giveaway in Lompoc, Calif., Dec. 14, 2024. The Village Dirtbags members worked with Main Street Cycles and the 30th Force Support Squadron’s Military and Family and Readiness Center, giving away 100 bicycles to families of military members. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olga Houtsma)
A child rides his new bicycle during the Holiday Bike Giveaway in Lompoc, Calif., Dec. 14, 2024. Members of the 30th Force Support Squadron’s Military and Family and Readiness Center and the Village Dirtbags hosted the giveaway for families of military members to ride their new bicycles and meet Santa. (U.S. Space Force photo by Airman 1st Class Olga Houtsma)

Members of the Village Dirtbags participate in helping children pick out their bikes during the Holiday Bike Giveaway in Lompoc, Calif., Dec. 14, 2024. The Village Dirtbags members worked with Main Street Cycles and the 30th Force Support Squadron’s Military and Family and Readiness Center, giving away 100 bicycles to families of military members.
 

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2 winners split P53M Superlotto 6/49 jackpot on Tuesday, Dec.17 – GMA News Online

Two bettors will surely have a “Merry Christmas!” after they won the Superlotto 6/49 draw of more than P53 million on Tuesday, December 17.
The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) drew the winning the combination of 28-22-04-09-26-19 that yielded P53,531,785.80 for two bettors.
Meanwhile, the Ultra Lotto 6/58 prize has risen to P231,449,016 after no one picked the numbers of 04-32-55-28-05-34.
There also no winners for Lotto 6/42 and its P5.94 million jackpot when no one played the combination of 37-33-20-14-41-21.
For more lotto results, visit here. —RF, GMA Integrated News

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Eyewatering $700 million lottery jackpot up for grabs on Tuesday – WACH.com

Now
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by Tatiana Carter
TOPICS:
One lucky South Carolinian could win over $700 million on Tuesday, with Mega Millions offering its largest-ever December jackpot.
Tuesday's prize ranks as the eighth-largest jackpot of all time.
Players have until 10 p.m. to purchase a $2 ticket for the 11 p.m. drawing.
To play, you can either opt for a Quick Pick or select five numbers from 1 to 70, plus one Megaball number from 1 to 25.
There are nine prize tiers, ranging from $2 to the jackpot.
The odds of winning the Mega Millions jackpot is 1 in 303 million.

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Why Is Ripple’s XRP Up? Price Prediction as RLUSD Stablecoin Debuts on Global Exchanges – Finance Magnates

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After much anticipation, Ripple’s stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), is now live on global exchanges. The listing of the digital asset has caused a surge in the trading volume of the token native to the blockchain XRP.
Data from CoinMarketCap shows that XRP’s 24-hour trading volumes soared 80% to $18 billion. At the time of writing, XRP traded at $2.62 with a market capitalization of $149 billion, ranking third behind Bitcoin and Ethereum.
In the past day alone, the price has risen nearly 5%, while the gains are more than 25% in the weekly chart. In contrast, Bitcoin and Ethereum have not changed much in the daily chart, trading at $106,895 and $3,945, respectively.
Ripple has officially entered the stablecoin market with the launch of its new digital currency, Ripple Dollar (RLUSD). Announced on December 17, RLUSD is now live on major global exchanges. RLUSD seeks to offer cross-border transactions.
According to the company, the token is backed by US dollar deposits and government bonds, ensuring stability in an otherwise volatile market. Although RLUSD has not made it to major crypto exchanges, it is reportedly available on Uphold, Bitso, MoonPay, Archax, and CoinMENA, with plans for broader adoption.
"Ripple USD (RLUSD) is now live on global exchanges. An enterprise-grade stablecoin built for everyone, $RLUSD combines fiat stability with blockchain efficiency: Instant global payments, 24/7, Seamless on/off ramps, Access value in real-world assets," Ripple wrote.
Ripple USD (RLUSD) is now live on global exchanges.

An enterprise-grade stablecoin built for everyone, $RLUSD combines fiat stability with blockchain efficiency:

➡️ Instant global payments, 24/7
➡️ Seamless on/off ramps
➡️ Access value in real-world assets.… pic.twitter.com/lJ43GdoDGR
The stablecoin recently integrated with both the XRPLedger and Ethereum blockchains. Ripple launched RLUSD under the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) limited purpose trust company charter, which is widely regarded as a top regulatory standard.
Analysts are now predicting prices will reach as high as $20 in the near term, with the possibility of market capitalization reaching as high as $1 trillion in the second quarter of 2025. One user on X highlighted that the bull market is still at an early stage, and more is yet to come.
And for non-traders, you just need to zoom out a little so you don’t forget the big picture.

Structure on $XRP here looks so freaking clean and bullish, it’s actually insane.

Forget what happens on these lower timeframes- it’s noise (for a non-trader), big picture is… https://t.co/9mBib6ci1u pic.twitter.com/o5ioncxE8h
This move positions Ripple as a partner for financial institutions, developers, and enterprises seeking to embrace digital assets within regulated frameworks.
Interestingly, RLUSD faced volatility even before its official launch despite its backing and stable value proposition. Pre-launch bids for the token experienced unusual spikes, with some investors willing to pay as much as $1,200 for a fraction of the stablecoin.
As RLUSD goes live, there may be supply shortages in the very early days before the market stabilizes. There actually is someone willing to pay $1,200/RLUSD for a tiny fraction of one RLUSD. Tools will show you the highest price anyone is willing to pay, even if it’s just for a… https://t.co/LOx4rGiiiJ
Ripple has reassured users that these inflated prices are temporary and caused by early speculative interest. David Schwartz, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, cautioned against fear of missing out (FOMO) behavior.
After much anticipation, Ripple’s stablecoin, Ripple USD (RLUSD), is now live on global exchanges. The listing of the digital asset has caused a surge in the trading volume of the token native to the blockchain XRP.
Data from CoinMarketCap shows that XRP’s 24-hour trading volumes soared 80% to $18 billion. At the time of writing, XRP traded at $2.62 with a market capitalization of $149 billion, ranking third behind Bitcoin and Ethereum.
In the past day alone, the price has risen nearly 5%, while the gains are more than 25% in the weekly chart. In contrast, Bitcoin and Ethereum have not changed much in the daily chart, trading at $106,895 and $3,945, respectively.
Ripple has officially entered the stablecoin market with the launch of its new digital currency, Ripple Dollar (RLUSD). Announced on December 17, RLUSD is now live on major global exchanges. RLUSD seeks to offer cross-border transactions.
According to the company, the token is backed by US dollar deposits and government bonds, ensuring stability in an otherwise volatile market. Although RLUSD has not made it to major crypto exchanges, it is reportedly available on Uphold, Bitso, MoonPay, Archax, and CoinMENA, with plans for broader adoption.
"Ripple USD (RLUSD) is now live on global exchanges. An enterprise-grade stablecoin built for everyone, $RLUSD combines fiat stability with blockchain efficiency: Instant global payments, 24/7, Seamless on/off ramps, Access value in real-world assets," Ripple wrote.
Ripple USD (RLUSD) is now live on global exchanges.

An enterprise-grade stablecoin built for everyone, $RLUSD combines fiat stability with blockchain efficiency:

➡️ Instant global payments, 24/7
➡️ Seamless on/off ramps
➡️ Access value in real-world assets.… pic.twitter.com/lJ43GdoDGR
The stablecoin recently integrated with both the XRPLedger and Ethereum blockchains. Ripple launched RLUSD under the New York Department of Financial Services (NYDFS) limited purpose trust company charter, which is widely regarded as a top regulatory standard.
Analysts are now predicting prices will reach as high as $20 in the near term, with the possibility of market capitalization reaching as high as $1 trillion in the second quarter of 2025. One user on X highlighted that the bull market is still at an early stage, and more is yet to come.
And for non-traders, you just need to zoom out a little so you don’t forget the big picture.

Structure on $XRP here looks so freaking clean and bullish, it’s actually insane.

Forget what happens on these lower timeframes- it’s noise (for a non-trader), big picture is… https://t.co/9mBib6ci1u pic.twitter.com/o5ioncxE8h
This move positions Ripple as a partner for financial institutions, developers, and enterprises seeking to embrace digital assets within regulated frameworks.
Interestingly, RLUSD faced volatility even before its official launch despite its backing and stable value proposition. Pre-launch bids for the token experienced unusual spikes, with some investors willing to pay as much as $1,200 for a fraction of the stablecoin.
As RLUSD goes live, there may be supply shortages in the very early days before the market stabilizes. There actually is someone willing to pay $1,200/RLUSD for a tiny fraction of one RLUSD. Tools will show you the highest price anyone is willing to pay, even if it’s just for a… https://t.co/LOx4rGiiiJ
Ripple has reassured users that these inflated prices are temporary and caused by early speculative interest. David Schwartz, Ripple’s Chief Technology Officer, cautioned against fear of missing out (FOMO) behavior.
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I’ve made £1,000 with easy browser shopping trick – I earn cash while buying Christmas presents… – The Sun

A SAVVY shopper has made £1,000 using a simple browser trick while shopping.
Data manager, Nicola Frapwell, has made it her mission to earn as much money as she can through cashback when making purchases online.
She does this via Topcashback, a platform where you can get cash simply by shopping with retailers via their website.
The 33-year-old supercharges her earnings by using it when shopping for Christmas presents – or in the January sales.
The shopping supremo, who lives in Haywards Heath, mid Sussex, with her partner, Luke, has been a member of Topcashback for around eight years. 
She told The Sun: “I first found out about cashback sites from MoneySavingExpert, and then did my own research too.”
Initially, when Nicola signed up, she wasn’t expecting much from the cashback site. But that soon changed.
“Little did I know that I was going to end up earning £1,000 in ‘free money’ in a relatively short time – just for shopping smartly online,” she said.
“For me, it’s been a complete godsend.”
With cashback sites, once you’ve found a deal on something you want to buy, you click through the link to your chosen shop.
The retailer then pays the cashback site a commission for referring you.
After this, the kickback is paid into your account – usually within 30 days. 
With Topcashback, you can save on everything from everyday shopping, fashion, beauty, holidays and takeaways to insurance policies, broadband bills – and even switching your bank account
Nicola said: “I try to earn money through cashback when buying pretty much anything online.
"Recent wins for me include £35 when getting car insurance with Aviva through price comparison site, MoneySupermarket, and £30 when buying home insurance with Ageas.”
Nicola also recently earned around £10 when updating her winter wardrobe from the likes of River IslandNew Look and H&M.
In addition, she recently bagged £5 cashback when buying a dress costing £50 on eBay.
This time of year, she adds, can be especially lucrative.
“I’ll try and get cashback whenever possible when buying Christmas gifts for friends and family,” she added. 
The key here is to earn cashback on all your purchases on top of the money you are already saving from this seasonal sale.
To ensure she never misses a deal, Nicola has the Topcashback app downloaded on her phone, and the browser extension enabled.
She said: “This means I can view cashback rates any time I visit a retailer’s page. For example, I recently saw that M&S was increasing its cashback rate to 20% for a limited time, so bought clothes and other bits and pieces both for me – and as gifts – to take advantage of this. The rate is now back to 6.8%.”
When it comes to payments hitting her account, Nicola says it’s important to be patient.
“Sometimes cashback is paid within a month,” she said. “But with purchases like insurance policies, you usually have to wait a few months for the money to land.”
The shopping whizz says she plans on using some of the money she’s amassed in her ‘cashback pot’ to help cover the cost of Christmas. 
“I’ve certainly felt the effects of the cost-of-living crisis in recent months,” she said. “My partner and I have noticed higher energy bills and food costs.
On top of this, we bought a new home around one year ago, and recently moved onto a higher mortgage rate – so right now, we are looking at trying to cut back wherever we can.”
Aside from Topcashback, another popular site for earning cashback is Quidco.
Cashback site, Rakuten, is also free to use. To sign up, you’ll just need your name and email address.
Be aware that terms and conditions will usually apply.
Take the time to read the details first so you know when you can expect to get the cashback – and any other requirements.
Don’t fall into the trap of shopping just for the sake of earning cashback.
Only use one of these sites to buy things that you need – and planned to purchase anyway.

If you make impulse buys, it’s not really a saving.
Consumer reporter Sam Walker reveals how you can save money on your Christmas shopping.
Limit the amount of presents – buying presents for all your family and friends can cost a bomb.
Instead, why not organise a Secret Santa between your inner circles so you're not having to buy multiple presents.
Plan ahead – if you've got the stamina and budget, it's worth buying your Christmas presents for the following year in the January sales.
Make sure you shop around for the best deals by using price comparison sites so you're not forking out more than you should though.
Buy in Boxing Day sales – some retailers start their main Christmas sales early so you can actually snap up a bargain before December 25.
Delivery may cost you a bit more, but it can be worth it if the savings are decent.
Shop via outlet stores – you can save loads of money shopping via outlet stores like Amazon Warehouse or Office Offcuts.
They work by selling returned or slightly damaged products at a discounted rate, but usually any wear and tear is minor.

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