CAN’T AFFORD THAT NEW LAPTOP FOR CHRISTMAS? THERE’S STILL HOPE!
OUR CONTINUED FIGHT
Equal Human Rights
NAACP Founded in 1909, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has over 2,200 branches across the country and over two million activists, making it the largest and most prominent civil rights organization in the U.S. Their goal is to create a society that guarantees equal human rights for all individuals without discrimination. To learn more and get involved, visit them at NAACP.org. ACLU GEORGIA This organization works toward defending the rights and civil liberties of all persons in the state of Georgia through legal action, civil education and engagement, and legislative and community advocacy. Their vision is to ensure Georgia is a state that guarantees all persons have the rights and civil liberties contained in the U.S. and Georgia Constitutions and Bill of Rights. Learn more at ACLUGA.org. GIDEON’S PROMISE & PUBLIC DEFENDERS Gideon’s Promise is a public defender organization working toward reshaping the justice system. They ensure that marginalized communities not only have access to representation when faced with entering the criminal justice system, but they are also represented fairly and equally. Stay up to date with their events and catch their latest podcast at GideonsPromise.org. Each of these organizations has promised to continue fighting for the people who have faced discrimination in their lives until they have equal rights. STERN Law is proud to fight alongside them.
How Buying Secondhand Can Save Your Wallet and the Planet
If your spouse wants a new tablet for Christmas, your daughter wants an iPhone, and your son is dying for a laptop, odds are it won’t be long before your gift budget runs out. High-tech presents add up fast, particularly this year when so many have fallen on hard times. Luckily, there is a way to get all of the gadgets you need without breaking the bank: refurbished or secondhand tech. Refurbished electronics are an affordable, eco-friendly alternative to the shiny newmodels. When something is labeled “refurbished,” it was returned to the manufacturer, fixed, and put back on the market. Sometimes these products are restored to like-new condition — Apple and Samsung, for example, will go so far as to include batteries and put their products in brand- new boxes — while other times, they’re fully functional but without the bells and whistles, like charging cables. While refurbished technology isn’t brand-new, it’s pretty darn close. You can find almost any piece of everyday technology refurbished or secondhand, including smartphones, laptops, tablets, PCs, TVs, and digital cameras. According to Money Crashers, these gently used electronics are often discounted up to 50%, helping your Christmas budget stretch further. The best place to shop for refurbished products is directly from the manufacturer. Amazon, Apple, Walmart, and Best Buy all have sections for refurbished products on their websites. Overstock. com is another great place to check, and you can buy or sell secondhand items on sites like Decluttr.com, BuyBackWorld.com, and Gazelle.com.
NOT YOUR GRANDMA’S FRUITCAKE Inspired by SimplyRecipes.com Fruitcake gets a bad rap, but when made correctly, it’s delicious! Try this recipe to upend your preconceived dessert notions.
INGREDIENTS •
1 tsp baking soda 1 cup sour cream
•
2 cups all-purpose flour, divided
• •
3 1/2 cups mixed dried fruit of your choice, chopped 1 cup nuts of your choice, chopped
• • • • •
1 stick butter 1 cup sugar
1 egg, room temperature
•
Zest of 1 orange
1 tsp salt
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 325 F. Line a 9x5-inch loaf pan with greased baking paper. Ensure the piece running the length of the pan stands 1 inch above each side to form “handles.” 2. In a small bowl, mix baking soda and sour cream. 3. In a second bowl, combine fruit, nuts, and 1/4 cup flour. 4. In a third bowl, beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Add egg, zest, and sour cream mixture. Then, add remaining flour and salt. Mix, then add fruit mixture. 5. Pour batter into lined pan. Fill up a separate loaf pan halfway with water. Bake both pans in oven for 1 1/2–2 hours or until a skewer leaves the cake clean. 6. Use “handles” to remove cake from pan and cool completely on a rack before serving.
All that said, saving money isn’t the only perk of refurbished and secondhand electronics. These devices are also better for the planet! By buying pre-owned tech, you can rescue an old device from the landfill and save the resources that would have been used to make a new one. This is a bigger deal than you might think. Mother Jones reports that a United Nations study found “the manufacture of one desktop computer requires 48 pounds of chemicals, 1.7 tons of water, and 529 pounds of fossil fuels — about 10 times the weight of the computer itself.” By shopping secondhand this Christmas, you can save money and be both Santa and an eco-warrior. It doesn’t get much better than that!
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