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Staying on Top of Children’s Health During the Pandemic

YourUpdateTV

Your child’s care provider does many important things, like checking your baby’s development and giving immunizations. They can also help you watch over your baby’s health. Recently, Dr. Arethusa Kirk, Chief Medical Officer at UnitedHealthcare, teamed with YourUpdateTV on a satellite media tour to discuss the important issue of pediatric health. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/qFe6qoBCuew The COVID-19 pandemic has greatly impacted how Americans are accessing health care and, for parents or guardians of a new baby, it has created questions about how to safely ensure early development goals are met. In light of COVID-19 restrictions, UnitedHealthcare is raising awareness for the importance of vaccinations and well visits. While virtual visits and telehealth are care options to consider, check with your doctor about what qualifies, newborn and baby well visits and immunizations should be done in a clinical setting. Your baby should go to at least eight well-child visits before they are 15 months old and preparation is key for a more comfortable appointment. Knowing what will happen at each of these appointments can help you get ready. There may be special steps to take when you arrive for your appointment. Call your child’s care provider before your visit. And remember to practice social distancing, wash your hands often and wear a mask. If you are a UnitedHealthcare Community Plan member, you may have access to our Healthy First Steps program, which can help you find a care provider, schedule well-child visits, connect with educational and community resources and more. For more information, visit UHC.com/childrenswellness About Dr. Arethusa Kirk: Dr. Arethusa Stevens Kirk is the Chief Medical Officer for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Maryland where she directs clinical initiatives for member-centric care coordination, population health, and quality programs. Dr. Kirk has served as a National Health Service Corps Scholar and as the Vice President of Medical Affairs at Total Health Care, a Federally Qualified Health Center in Baltimore City. She continues to practice as an Associate Physician of the Neurology and Development Inpatient Unit at Kennedy Krieger Institute and as a primary care physician. Prior to her career in medicine she served as a volunteer with the Missionaries of Charity in India and as a Health Education Coordinator in The Gambia West Africa for the U.S. Peace Corps. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 28, 2020 11:45 AM Eastern Standard Time

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DESPITE ECONOMIC PRESSURES 2020 WAS YEAR OF GIVING

Donors Trust

As philanthropists prepare for year-end giving and nonprofit organizations prepare budgets and make final 2020 appeals, surprising trends in giving are becoming more apparent. Despite the pandemic, disruptions in daily life, and significant economic pressures, generosity in 2020 is proving to be much more significant than anticipated. “DonorsTrust is experiencing a 35% increase in grant volume, before accounting for the final two weeks of December, when it traditionally processes a flurry of new grant requests. In 2020, DonorsTrust accountholders will have requested more money out of their DAF accounts than they contributed into them,” explains Lawson Bader, CEO of DonorsTrust. “The legacy of 2020 will not be a year of malaise but instead one marked by generosity and philanthropic spirit.” Holidays and the end of the year are traditionally a time where nonprofit organizations raise significant funds for operations and programming while experiencing increased requests for help. The unpredictable economy and cancellation of many fundraising events or in-person meetings created uncertainty over how these nonprofits would end the year. However, what is clear now is that donor-advised funds (DAFs) are filling the void. “Not only have we observed a record number of donations in 2020, but donor-advised funds (DAFs) are playing an important role,” Bader says. “Money is simultaneously flowing out of funds as donors continue contributing to accounts, despite the roller-coaster that is the stock market and the troubled economy.” While much of the increased giving can be attributed to the desire to support nonprofits struggling with handicapped operations during this pandemic, tax incentives from the CARES Act, which created tax incentives to spur donations, are also encouraging more giving. DAFs are proving to be a key source of income for charities experiencing fundraising difficulties in 2020. The charitable vehicle is growing in popularity, with nearly one million Americans utilizing DAFs to centralize and simplify giving. Low new account minimums make them the great democratizers of philanthropy – available to all, not just the privileged few. If things stay on the current trajectory, DAFs are well-positioned to continue the increased levels of giving into 2021, explains Bader. “The only thing standing in the way of these continued increased trends of giving is political uncertainty. Often, changes in tax laws have a ‘cause and effect’ relationship with changes in giving. If changing political leadership in Washington interrupts these trends by limiting deductions or raising taxes – the trajectory could reverse much to the chagrin of those serving the most vulnerable in our society.” To learn more about how DAFs and DonorsTrust are making a difference, please visit http://www.donorstrust.org Established in 1999 as a 501(c)(3) public charity, DonorsTrust is a community of donors devoted to creating a better future. Our donors support charities they believe protect our Nation’s constitutional liberties and strengthen civil society through private institutions rather than with government programs. Our boutique size lets us offer our donors personal attention and advice that helps them achieve their philanthropic goals. We ensure that our donors’ intentions are protected and offer them a simple, effective and tax-advantaged way to give. Since inception, DonorsTrust has granted out over $1.3 billion to over 4,000 charities that protect our constitutional liberties and strengthen civil society without government funding. Contact Details Dan Rene +1 202-329-8357 daniel.rene@kglobal.com Company Website https://www.donorstrust.org/

December 28, 2020 10:38 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Navigating Last-Minute Gifts with Stephanie Humphrey

YourUpdateTV

While things will be different this holiday season, gift-giving is still at the forefront of most consumers’ minds. Recently, Technology and Lifestyle Expert, Stephanie Humphrey, teamed with YourUpdateTV to share some great, last-minute gift ideas. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/c9Yg5EklXjk Hottest Gaming Gifts of 2020 Gaming is hotter than ever with the releases of the PS5 and XBOX Series X, along with much anticipated titles like Cyberpunk 2077 coming out just in time for the holidays. GameStop is the home for everything video games, accessories, and collectibles. Top picks include CyberPunk 2077, an open world, choose your own adventure game with amazing graphics, along with the XBOX Series X Shock Blue Wireless Controller and Cyberpunk FUNKO POP! collectibles. Find all of these and more at GameStop.com/GiftHub. For the family that games together, Kingdom Hearts Melody of Memory is a rhythm action videogame that takes players on a musical journey through the wildly popular Kingdom Hearts series. Players will travel through iconic Disney Worlds and encounter beloved characters in their journey, and enjoy some of Kingdom Hearts’ most memorable songs, as well as classic songs from the Disney cinematic universe. For more, visit KingdomHearts.com. Practical Gift Giving One thing everyone needed more of this year? Reliable Wi-Fi. It’s not always easy to find an open Wi-Fi network these days, which is why the latest 5G mobile hotspot from the pioneers of the hotspot category, Inseego, are a great option. The 5G MiFi M2100 and M2000 on Verizon and T-Mobile turn a single 5G connection into your own private, secure W-Fi network, with broadband speeds that rival traditional home internet connections. They have an all-day battery and you can connect up to 32 devices at once, so your whole family can connect their new tablets and devices almost anywhere – perfect for working from home, homeschool or that next family road trip. For more, visit Inseego.com. Working-From-Anywhere Last-minute gifts are hard and everyone is looking to make a little travel happen in-between remote work. So, with no passport, currency exchange or new phone plan required for U.S. citizens, Puerto Rico is the perfect destination for remote work in the new year. An island filled with natural wonders for remote workers to explore safely in their downtime and switch up that scenery after they are finished with those work calls. With 31 internet providers and three 5G network, travelers can expect full connectivity whenever they need it. As you get ready to make travel plans next year, check out DiscoverPuertoRico.com. About Stephanie Humphrey: Technology and Lifestyle Expert Stephanie Humphrey is a former engineer who merges her passion for lifestyle media with in-depth tech expertise to show everyday people how empowering, enriching and fun technology can be. Stephanie is driven by the sole purpose of connecting people, particularly those underrepresented in technology, with the tech know-how to transform their worlds. Stephanie is currently a technology contributor for ABC Newswhere she works as part of the nationally-syndicated Strahan Sara & Keke team. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 22, 2020 10:15 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Giving the Gift of Security This Holiday Season

YourUpdateTV

While everyone is busy getting ready for a holiday season during a global pandemic, scammers have been hard at work taking advantage of a year that has changed how people shop and spend time at home. Recently, Technology and Lifestyle Expert, Stephanie Humphrey, teamed with YourUpdateTV to share some ideas to help keep everyone safe and secure. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/e5hj0wW0DyQ Protect Your Passwords Scammers have really taken advantage of the shift in consumer habits this year as so much of our lives have gone on-line. More than half of Americans don’t feel prepared should they be the victim of a cyberattack. The most important thing consumers can do to protect themselves online is also the simplest and least expensive: Secure their passwords. Keeper uses the highest level of encryption available to protect passwords and personal information from being stolen by cybercriminals. Keeper eliminates the time and hassle that comes with forgetting, resetting and recovering passwords, providing users with one master password to remember. The service comes in monthly plans starting at $3 for unlimited password storage. Visit keepersecurity.com for more. Protecting Your Packages With the rise in online shopping, we’ve seen a rise in porch piracy, with 1.7 million packages stolen or lost each day in the United States. DeliverySafe is secure and simple to use and it solves a lot of problems and improves your life at home: it helps prevent porch piracy, it protects packages from rain, snow or heat, and it allows you to retrieve your grocery, package or subscription box deliveries at your convenience and around your schedule - not a delivery window.The insulated DeliverySafe sits on your porch or driveway and works with most major delivery companies. Simply provide them with a passcode that lets the driver store your package securely till you get home. Go to deliverysafe.com for more. Whole-Home Protection With everyone spending more time at home this year and holiday season, there’s no better time to make it a place that’s a safe haven. SimpliSafe provides whole-home protection against everything from intruders to fires, water damage and more. Give the gift of peace of mind with a SimpliSafe smart home security system, like The Essentials Kit, a six piece system that includes all of the basics to make life at home more comfortable and enjoyable. It’s easy DIY install and no-long term commitments make it a great gift for homeowners and renters alike. For more information and to start the whole-home protection process, visit simplisafe.com/stephaniehumphrey. Protect Your Tech (and the Environment) Another way to feel more secure is to protect the tech you do have. While you’re shopping for the latest tech for your loved ones, make sure they keep it protected as well and you can feel good about it. The new LifeProof WĀKE case is made with over 85% of ocean-based plastic, features a sleek wave design and comes in 4 different colors. But it doesn’t just look good, it does good. With every purchase or a LifeProof case, you get to choose a non-profit partner to receive a donation. Visit lifeproof.com for more! About Stephanie Humphrey: Technology and Lifestyle Expert Stephanie Humphrey is a former engineer who merges her passion for lifestyle media with in-depth tech expertise to show everyday people how empowering, enriching and fun technology can be. Stephanie is driven by the sole purpose of connecting people, particularly those underrepresented in technology, with the tech know-how to transform their worlds. Stephanie is currently a technology contributor for ABC Newswhere she works as part of the nationally-syndicated Strahan Sara & Keke team. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 22, 2020 10:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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New data release shows where hospitals are overwhelmed across America

Stacker

Hospitals across the country are on the verge of overflowing with nearly 700 hospitals at over 90% inpatient capacity, according to a new dataset released Dec. 7 by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). Meanwhile, 750 hospitals have exceeded 90% capacity in their intensive care units, where patients in critical condition are treated. Stacker created a report complete with data visualizations that can be found here. These numbers come as a third surge of COVID-19 outbreaks rages in nearly every state. When hospitals are overwhelmed, it becomes challenging for doctors and nurses to provide COVID-19 patients with the attention care they need and can lead to further loss of life. The new HHS dataset provides a granular picture of these grim national statistics, including counts of patients and hospital beds at the individual hospital level for more than 4,000 facilities across the country. These counts are reported by hospitals nearly every day, either sent directly to the HHS or sent to state public health departments and hospital networks that aggregate the data. Stacker used these counts to calculate three values for each hospital: Patients hospitalized with COVID-19: share of COVID-19 patients compared to all patients in the hospital Inpatient bed occupancy: how many standard care beds in the hospital are currently filled with patients ICU bed occupancy: how many intensive care beds are currently filled with patients HHS also reports hospitalization data at the state level. National insights (as of Dec. 13) include: The states with the highest rates of occupied beds are Maryland (79.8% of all beds occupied), Washington D.C. (80.0%), and Rhode Island (85.2%). States with the highest shares of their populations hospitalized with COVID-19 are Arizona (53 patients per 100,000 population), Pennsylvania (55 per 100K), and Nevada (67 per 100K). 19% of hospitals in the nation are facing critical staffing shortages, while 24% anticipate such a shortage within the next week. Staffing shortages are highest in Arkansas (33.6% of hospitals in the state), Wisconsin (35.6%), and North Dakota (42.0%). For more details on methodology or insights about your state, contact us at melanie@thestacker.com. With the overload of content across the web, it can be hard to wade through the fake, biased, or just plain boring stories. That’s why at Stacker we built a brand committed to combining objective expert analysis with rich editorial insights—delivering stories that help readers understand important topics in their neighborhood or around the world, in a format that’s enjoyable to consume. Contact Details Melanie Holohan +1 858-200-6450 melanie@thestacker.com

December 18, 2020 11:20 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Americans receive 12,000 pointless emails a year - and these are the phrases to avoid

SizzleDeck

Nearly three in every four emails sent is pointless or irrelevant – according to new research. If you’ve ever felt yourself drowning in emails or a slave to your inbox you may well relate to a new online survey of 2,002 Americans that found 73 percent of the emails people receive aren’t relevant or interesting to them-if they’re even opened at all. Respondents in the census-balanced survey from SizzleDeck estimated they receive 44 emails each day on average between work and personal accounts – and cited 32 of those emails typically aren’t worth paying attention to or require no action on their part. That equates to over 16,000 emails in a typical year with precisely 11,680 of them deemed a waste of time. The survey found more than half (54%) of Americans polled have real difficulty clearing their work email inbox. But while things get lost in the inbox, sending a text is still an effective way to get attention the average respondent checks their phone 18 times during the typical working day. Perhaps that’s why Americans are more than three times more likely to prefer to read text messages than open emails (48% v 14%). A spokesperson for SizzleDeck said: “This survey backs up what our instincts were telling us, most people have a tonne of unread emails, but hardly anyone has an unread text message. If you want to be sure your message gets read, send it by text.” Whether it’s texts or emails, our attention spans are dominated by our phones. In addition to the 18 phone sessions we have during our working hours, three-quarters of us admit checking our phones is the very first thing we do in the morning and the very last thing we do at night. When not on their phones, people tend to have better attention skills in-person than they do virtually. When asked how long it would take them to mentally check out during a presentation, the average for Zoom presentations was six slides. For in-person meetings, it takes seven slides before people will start to check out. And it’s not just the visuals but the words that really count. People have a low tolerance for work jargon, it seems. When asked what work phrases they hate the most, respondents said “per my last email” (32%), “we’re all in this together” (32%) and “blue sky thinking” (29%) rounded the top of the list. The spokesperson for SizzleDeck added: “In pure communication terms, we find that the key to getting people to read and respond to a message is to keep it simple, keep it short and avoid clichés. The clearest communicators write the same way the talk.” TOP WORST WORK JARGON 1. Per my last email 32% 2. We ’ re all in this together 32% 3. Blue sky thinking 29% 4. Did you get that thing I sent you? 28% 5. Let ’ s touch base 27% 6. Let ’ s circle back 23% 7. Can you get this to me EOD? 23% 8. Let ’ s table that 21% 9. Let ’ s get this offline 12% The census-balanced survey of 2,002 Americans was conducted online in November 2020. About SizzleDeck SizzleDeck is a software application that makes it easy for businesses to build, share and track phone-friendly landing pages. Contact Details Rick Maughan +1 929-359-2537 rickmaughan@hotmail.co.uk

December 17, 2020 08:14 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Holiday Gift-Giving Made Safe and Easy by Target

YourUpdateTV

2020 has been a year unlike any other, but that doesn't mean the holidays can't be special. Whether you’ll be celebrating with immediate family at home or toasting one another virtually, gift-giving is one way to keep the joy of the season alive and bring a smile to loved ones faces. A Video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/QZYyRq5ciuk So, this holiday, what should you be thinking about when purchasing those last-minute gifts for everyone on your list? And how do you do it safely and easily? With something for everyone on your list and contactless same-day pickup and delivery options, Target is the one-stop shop for all your last-minute gifting and holiday needs, making it easier and more reliable to shop, save and celebrate the joy of the season, with delivery in time for Christmas. Plus, when it comes to shopping for last-minute gifts, Target has you covered with everything from top toys, apparel and accessories for the whole family, beauty products, and home décor items that will help make your home cozy for the holidays. And with the clock ticking, Target’s same-day services, like Order Pickup, Drive Up and Same-Day Delivery with Shipt, make holiday shopping easier than ever. For more information, visit Target.com About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 16, 2020 11:30 AM Eastern Standard Time

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Holiday Gifts that Bring Joy

YourUpdateTV

People are gifting differently this year. We see consumers turning to retail therapy to deal with 2020. Many of us are looking for ways to buy consciously and pay it forward this holiday season. Many trends this year show consumers turning to retail therapy this holiday season. A video accompanying this announcement is available at: https://youtu.be/9UcTLZhz7ec Sustainable Style Technology gifts are hotter than ever and some have thankfully become more sustainable. LifeProof now has a full line of sustainable phone cases, but with the same durability and protection we all love about them. This is the new LifeProof WAKE case which is made with over 85% of ocean-based plastic. It’s sleek in design, comes in 4 different colors and this is the best part -- when you purchase a case from LifeProof, you get to choose one of the company’s non-profit partners to receive a donation on your behalf. So it’s a gift you can feel good about giving. Educational Fun Educational gifting is a huge trend this year, with virtual learning challenging many parents to find ways to make learning at home fun and engaging. The GraviTrax Starter Set, for instance, is an interactive marble run and construction toy set that lets kids experiment with concepts such as gravity and magnetism, infusing play time with some fun learning. The whole family can create different tracks and work together or independently to figure out the fastest way to get your marble to the finish line, and you can add accessories (also available at Target) to take your tracks to even greater heights. GraviTrax​ is a really great hands-on toy that helps develop problem solving skills and creative thinking! Toys for Everyone on Your List Many retailers are finding ways to make holiday shopping easier and safer than ever before. Macy’s once again has a great selection of toys for everyone on your list and at all price points. You can find everything from classic board games, to Disney favorites like the Mandalorian and Frozen. Macy’s has also made it super easy to shop with their convenient payment and shipping options such buy online, pick up in store, and same-day delivery with DoorDash and you can always split your online purchase into 4 easy payments with Klarna. Crazy for Crafting With a lot more time at home, crafting gifts have become very popular. The Brother ScanNCut DX SDX85 is a great gift idea for the crafting enthusiast or someone looking for a new creative hobby. Use it for last-minute holiday cards, festive decorations, and more. This is the only series of electronic cutting machines with true auto-blade sensing technology and a built-in scanner. ScanNCut DX SDX85 has 251 built in designs, so you can get crafting right out of the box! Or you can easily transfer your own unique designs to the machine via USB or WiFi connectivity. About Ereka Vetrini: Ereka Vetrini is a TV Host, Lifestyle Expert, Brand Spokesperson, Producer, Blogger and proud mom of two who got her start on Donald Trump‘s “The Apprentice” season 1. Ereka is currently the host of Lifetime’s Access Health. Access Health brings you the latest cutting-edge developments and innovations in medicine, nutrition and fitness, so women everywhere can take charge of their health starting today! She is also a regular contributor to NBC’s 1st Look and NY Live. As an on-air correspondent for NBC she covers the hottest spots to dine, travel and shop! Ereka was previously the host of TLC Sunday Brunch where she brought you the very best brunch & cocktail recipes, styling tips and so much more! As a mother of two, Ereka enjoys spending every spare minute running after her 9 and 7-year-old. About YourUpdateTV: YourUpdateTV is a social media video portal for organizations to share their content. It includes separate channels for Health and Wellness, Lifestyle, Media and Entertainment, Money and Finance, Social Responsibility, Sports and Technology. Contact Details YourUpdateTV +1 212-736-2727 yourupdatetv@gmail.com

December 16, 2020 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time

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LineSwings launches to help gamblers analyze betting opportunities during games

LineSwings

On the heels of legalized sports betting becoming a reality on mobile devices in 12 states plus Washington D.C., LineSwings launches as an innovative startup to help bettors analyze lines during games. LineSwings offers exclusive data and graphs of the live lines and money lines throughout NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL and NCAA men’s basketball games. As a Philadelphia-based company, the new service is now available nationwide as a free service at LineSwings.com and via their iOS app in the App Store. An app for Android devices is in development. “Live in-game betting is one of the fastest growing types of gambling,” said Patrick Dougherty, Managing Partner of LineSwings. “The information we offer at LineSwings can’t be found via the sportsbooks. LineSwings.com and our app provides sports gamblers an interface for tracking, analyzing and seizing opportunities.” In addition to providing real-time analytics, LineSwings users can be alerted via text or app notification when the line undergoes a significant swing during the game. For example, on Nov. 1, 2020, the Los Angeles Rams opened as a 3.5-point favorite over the Miami Dolphins. With the Dolphins leading 28-10 in the 2nd quarter, the line swung to make the Rams 16.5-point underdogs. When the underdog becomes the favorite, the line is considered inverted. The Rams came back in the game and lost by only 9. If a user set their alerts for either a 14+ point spread differential or a 14+ point inversion, he or she would have been notified in real time. LineSwings was founded by Philadelphia businessmen Dan Abato, Patrick Dougherty and Mike Rosenello, owners of ADR Technologies, LLC. They saw an opportunity to create LineSwings shortly after sports gambling became legal on mobile devices in their home state of Pennsylvania. Since LineSwings is not a sportsbook, sports fans can enjoy the data and analytics in all 50 states and around the world. As of Dec. 15, sports betting is legal on mobile devices in the following 12 states: Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, Nevada, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Oregon, Colorado, West Virginia, Iowa and New Hampshire. Michigan will be added to that list in the coming weeks. Additional states are expected to approve sports betting on mobile devices in 2021. LineSwings consumers can make use of the information to become a smarter gambler by placing bets with their preferred sportsbook. LineSwings does not take bets. About LineSwings LineSwings is a sports gambling analytics company that offers exclusive data and graphs of the live betting lines and money lines throughout NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and NCAA men’s basketball games. Based in Philadelphia, LineSwings is available worldwide as a free service at LineSwings.com and their iOS app via the App Store. To learn more about LineSwings, visit their FAQ page at LineSwings.com/welcome/faq. Contact Details Eric Nemeth +1 602-502-2793 nemeth.eric@gmail.com Company Website https://www.lineswings.com/

December 15, 2020 08:07 AM Eastern Standard Time

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