For the 17th consecutive year, DFCU Financial infuses dollars into local communities with its unprecedented Cash Back payout. Eligible members will receive $38.2 million this year for a total of more than $430 million paid back through the program since its inception. The 2023 payment—the credit union's own local stimulus package—is the largest in the program's history and was deposited into the accounts of more than 100,000 members, based on their total relationship with DFCU Financial. 

"Our diversified business model and top-tier industry performance have allowed DFCU Financial to pay a significant dividend to our membership since 2006," said President & CEO Ryan Goldberg. "We are proud to share the income of our company with the members that contribute to its success. It is very encouraging to hear stories from members each year of how the Cash Back dividend makes a difference in their financial lives."

The payout to members is calculated based on each member's total relationship with DFCU Financial. Qualifying members receive a one-half percent (0.50%) Cash Back on their average yearly deposit AND loan balances—a key differentiator—with each eligible member receiving at least $50.

For example:

+ $150,000 Mortgage

+ $2,000 Savings

+ $1,000 Checking

+ $12,000 Auto Loan

+ $25,000 Home Equity Line of Credit

$190,000 Total Relationship

x 0.50% Cash Back

$950 deposited into member's account!

DFCU is the only financial institution in the nation to pay members an average of $20 million for the last 17 consecutive years. Goldberg points to the dividend as a significant differentiator between the $6 billion credit union and other financial institutions. "There is not another financial institution that offers what we offer," stressed Goldberg. "With our recent merger with First Citrus Bank in Tampa Bay, we look forward to infusing these payout dollars into those communities and supporting those members as well. We fully expect our new Florida members to benefit from our retail banking solutions, such as mortgages, consumer lending, and investment services." 

The credit union continually reinvests in its membership with new branches and financial literacy education for all ages. DFCU Financial currently operates 27 full-service branches in Detroit, Ann Arbor, Grand Rapids, and Lansing, and now six branches in the Tampa Bay area. All who live, work, go to school, or worship in Michigan or the Tampa Bay area are eligible for membership. For more information and to find out how you can join, call 888.336.2700 or visit dfcufinancial.com. 

While the DFCU Financial Board of Directors intends to pay Cash Back every year, and has done so since 2006, Cash Back is not guaranteed and will depend on our financial performance and other factors. Annual Cash Back payments are limited to an aggregate of $10,000 for each tax-reported owner. The IRS requires that Cash Back for an IRA be paid to the same IRA account and that it be open when Cash Back is deposited. Cash Back to Business Banking members is subject to additional terms. Anyone who causes DFCU Financial a loss for any reason is not eligible for Cash Back. 

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Prayer Time Dubai
Prayers Time United Arab Emirates

PrayerTimeDubai.AE announces the release of its 2023 UAE and Dubai prayer time calendar. PrayerTimeDubai.AE is the best website in the UAE, with an automatic and authentic timetable that contains prayer times for Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi and all other cities in the UAE.

Muslims are required as one of the Five Pillars of Islam to perform Salat (prayer) five times a day. Islam is the official religion of Dubai and the United Arab Emirates.

How many times do Muslims pray each day?

Salat (or prayers) are performed at the following times every day:

• Fajr: dawn prayer
• Dhuhr: midday prayer
• Asr: late afternoon prayer
• Maghrib: sunset prayer
• Isha: evening prayer 

Prayer times vary around the world, as they are calculated based on the position of the sun. At each prayer time, there is a set number of "rakat" or "rak'ah", prescribed movements and words must be performed.

Prayer Time Dubai is the official timetable and calendar in the UAE that calculates the exact prayer time in the United Arab Emirates and Dubai.
You can check the prayer time today and daily for the following cities in the UAE: Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Fujairah, Ajman, Al Ain, Ras Al Khaimah and Umm Al Quwain.

The "Call to Prayer"

The prayer times, as detailed above, are made known by a Muezzin (caller), where "Adhan" is recited, usually from loudspeakers in a mosque. You will likely hear the call to prayer from most places in the city.

"Iqamah", the internal call for prayer, is performed 20 minutes after Adhan (25 minutes after Fajr and 5 minutes after Maghrib) to establish that prayers are about to start.

Midday prayers on a Friday ("Jumu'ah") are of particular importance as they are congregational prayers.

Lingoda - Language Wins
Reach your language wins in 2023

Lingoda, one of the top global online language schools, has launched a new brand campaign all about celebrating language wins. In a nutshell, a language win can be defined as any success - small or large - that a person experiences in their language learning journey. And whether that may be flawlessly ordering a coffee in German for the first time while on vacation in Berlin, or finally watching that Spanish-language Netflix show without subtitles, Lingoda's campaign seeks to transform those magical moments into a celebration of the wins that language learners experience every day. 

And to help language learners get a jump start on their language wins for 2023, Lingoda is offering 30% off the first month of classes to new students throughout the month of January. 

Lingoda's in-house team of experts designed the curriculum in such a way that students start building conversational confidence from day one - as this is one of the most difficult hurdles of learning a new language. The focus of each class is to get students speaking as much, and as soon, as possible. With plenty of time to practice in immersive online classes, Lingoda students will feel confident to go out into the real world and rack up endless language wins. In fact, 95% of language students say that they speak more confidently after learning with Lingoda. 

The pace at which language wins will occur can also be determined by every student individually. The learning intensity is entirely up to the student as Lingoda classes are available 24/7 to fit anyone's schedule at every level.

And with all Lingoda teachers vetted and hand-picked by an internal team of current and former language teachers, Lingoda ensures a high-quality experience in each class that will guide all Lingoda students to their next language win. 

"We know that learning a language is hard. So when you have those moments of 'success' it all becomes worth it. For our learners, a winning moment can come in all sizes - small, big or great," says Dominic Rowell, Lingoda CEO. "When you learn with Lingoda, there's no end to what you can accomplish. We don't stop at the first win and neither should you. It's all about progression, ambition and success. And with Lingoda, you can be confident that we have the expertise to help you achieve all those winning moments."

ABOUT LINGODA

Lingoda is one of the top online language schools. Founded in Berlin, Germany, in 2013, we provide convenient and accessible online language courses in German, English, Business English, French and Spanish to over 100,000 students worldwide. With almost 550,000 classes available per year and accessible 24/7, our mission is to build bridges around the world through language learning. 

Visit Lingoda.com to learn more.

Northwestern Mutual: When jobseekers receive an offer from a potential employer, it may feel like they've finally made it to the finish line. But candidates still have the opportunity to ask questions and find out if the offer is a good fit for them. This is the time to negotiate pay and other benefits and understand how the new offer compares to a current job or other offers. Keep reading for three essential questions to ask when evaluating a job offer.

What benefits are included in the offer?

A hiring manager or recruiter may provide some indication of the benefits early in the interviewing process, but once an offer is on the table, candidates have an opportunity to ask more specific questions. Employees can take the opportunity to ask about things like health insurance, life insurance, 401(k) matching, and flexible hours. The employer may also offer other benefits like upskilling and training (short online courses or even fully funded degree programs), remote work options, and more. 

How much vacation time or sick time does the company offer?

Candidates may want to ask about leave policies, including vacation days, sick leave, and company policies regarding sabbaticals and parental leave. This is valuable information to have, and knowing the company offers a two-month sabbatical after three years or generous parental leave may make the offer much more attractive. At the same time, the leave policy may not always be a dealbreaker — there may be instances when it is balanced out by other benefits. For example, a candidate may hesitate to accept an offer from a company that includes fewer vacation days than their current job. But the company may offer flexible working hours or a hybrid working setup that lets employees work from home for some days of the week, which would certainly sweeten the deal. Ultimately, candidates should look for a model that works best for their needs.

How was the salary calculated?

This question, in conjunction with others, can let candidates know where they stand as far as pay negotiations are concerned. If the salary is the standard pay for the position being offered, that may be an indication that there may not be room for negotiating (though it may still make sense to ask). On the other hand, if the salary is based on the candidate's years of experience, qualifications, and skillset, then the candidate may make a case for a better salary based on their own research regarding the industry standard or even best-in-market pay for that role. 

Key takeaways

Candidates should bear in mind that negotiation is part of the process, so there's no need to be intimidated. Before negotiating a salary, conducting some research to back up salary expectations is crucial. It's important to clearly communicate your requirements and be straightforward throughout the process. It can also help to be flexible about minor details if the overall package meets expectations. 

Aperture Pet & Life, the integrated company for some of the largest brands in the aquatics industry, including Bulk Reef Supply, Neptune Systems, EcoTech Marine and AquaIllumination, is pleased to announce the newest light addition to their highly innovative line up of some of the most trusted products by aquarists around the world.

The new light series, Aquaillumination Blade, is the most versatile light ever launched under the EcoTech house of brands. Designed as a strip light. Blade can be paired with other lights and mounted in infinite configurations to best meet aquariums of all sizes and needs. This allows aquarists to choose the right size and spectrum for their tank by using Blade as a standalone light, through mixing and matching multiple Blades or by pairing with other lights already over their aquarium.

Blade is available in four different spectrums:

• Refugium: horticultural-based spectrum designed for growing green plants
• Grow: marine spectrum mix that is designed around maximizing output in the photosynthetic peaks used by Coral to grow and produce nutrients
• Glow: marine spectrum mix that is designed to maximize fluorescence in coral
• Freshwater: spectrum designed to maximize output for freshwater aquariums and/or house plants

"We couldn't be more pleased with our new Blade light lineup. We firmly believe that this is by far the most versatile aquarium lighting solution we have ever made, if not the most flexible lighting platform available to hobbyists, period," said Patrick Clasen, President of EcoTech. "Using Blades alone, in multiples, as a Grow and Glow mix, as a supplement to Hydra or Radion pendant lights or over their freshwater tanks, opens up a world of possibility."

Blade lights have on-light control and full control and programmable scheduling capabilities through the AquaIllumination MyAI or the Mobius app, both available in the Apple App store or from Google Play.

The Blade light is available in 7 sizes for Grow, Glow and Freshwater: 12.1in(30.74cm), 21.1in(53.59cm), 30.1in(76.45cm), 39.1in(99.31cm), 48.1in(122.17cm), 57.1in(145.03cm), 66.1in(167.89cm). The Refugium is available in 12.1in(30.74cm).

For more information or to purchase Blade, retailers can reach out to their Aperture sales representative or visit the Aperture wholesale portal. Aquarists can purchase Blade at their favorite local fish store or online retailer.

About Aperture

Aperture is a leading online retailer, manufacturer and distributor of products and solutions in over 50 countries through an integrated platform, which includes the industry's leading online marketplace for saltwater aquarists, world-class products for the success of saltwater, freshwater and reptile and amphibian ecosystems and habitats, distribution operations, sales professionals and one of the pet industry's largest YouTube platforms, with over 400,000 subscribers and 110 million views. Through its banner brands Bulk Reef Supply, Neptune Systems, EcoTech Marine, Aquaillumination, Leap Habitats and others, the company offers its customers the products and resources they need to create thriving ecosystems. For more information, visit www.apetlife.com

Dad Multitasking
Dad Multitasking

January is known as "Divorce Month," and many unsuspecting fathers are not ready for the worst-case scenario. Studies show that women initiate divorces as much as 69% of the time, and the Dads' Resource Center helps to prepare single fathers for the possibility that access to their children may be in jeopardy if their separation turns contentious.

"Most fathers assume that custody of children will work out in a reasonable manner," said Dads' Resource Center Executive Director Jeffrey Steiner. "That is not always the case, and with the way court, county, and human service systems tend to work against fathers, they can very quickly find themselves in a deep hole that is nearly impossible to get out of, which most hurts their children."

A 2019 Dads' Resource Center study of 700 contested custody cases found that judges awarded full or primary custody to mothers in 496 cases, fathers in 100 cases, and joint custody in 104 cases. The Dads' Resource Center has investigated the use of protection from abuse orders to gain advantage in matters of custody as well as a lack of standards for the hiring and supervision of guardian ad litems assigned to represent children in family court matters. 

With potential barriers such as these ahead of them, newly separated fathers should:

Trust their gut - While most fathers are deferential to the children's mother, if their intuition is telling them she is making business decisions, they should resign themselves to doing what they believe is in the best interests of the children. 

Consider staying in the family home - If the decision of custody of children is placed into the hands of the court, a judge is very likely to grant an initial order to keep custody as it currently exists. This will then be the baseline moving forward. Unless absolutely necessary, don't move out before there is a court order.

Find good legal counsel - Understand there are good, average, and bad attorneys. The costs for contested custody battles can skyrocket very quickly, and many fathers find themselves out of money with no resolution to their situation.

Be Your Best - Anything can be used against a parent if a custody battle is contentious. Think and act accordingly. 

About the Dads' Resource Center (www.dadsrc.org)

Founded by AccuWeather Founder and CEO Dr. Joel N. Myers, Dads' Resource Center is the leading advocate for single fathers. DRC believes that father absence is a major factor in nearly every social issue our country faces and that all able and willing dads should be allowed to uphold their sacred responsibility as fathers.

https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-319-71544-5_11

https://dadsrc.org/research

Media Contact Only

Jeffrey Steiner, M.Ed., Executive Director

[email protected] / 833-323-7748

More than a dozen PredictIt traders and educators, and PredictIt service provider Aristotle, who are suing the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in federal court, have filed a Motion for an Injunction Pending Appeal in the Fifth Circuit. In the filing, they argue that a district court has delayed action to the point where relief would otherwise come too late to protect the PredictIt Market which has functioned for more than eight years. The Motion asks the Court to rule by Jan. 19, 2023.

Following several months of inaction and given the time-sensitive nature of this issue, plaintiffs filed a motion on Dec. 23, 2022, to move their request for a Preliminary Injunction from the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas to the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. 

This action asks the Fifth Circuit to enter an interim order preventing shut down of the PredictIt market while the Court considers the appeal. The filing also presents plaintiffs' reasoning for the motion and states that PredictIt and its traders have already suffered irreparable harm in the form of distorted pricing and compliance costs as a result of the CFTC's order to shut down on the arbitrary date of Feb. 15, 2023. 

"Given that the CFTC gave PredictIt an arbitrary deadline that is quickly approaching, and the District Court's focus on a venue change argument ahead of the substantive issues, we are pursuing every possible avenue to get relief and answers for the plaintiffs and the broader PredictIt user base," said David Mason, Aristotle General Counsel and former Federal Election Commission (FEC) Chairman.

Aristotle is the contract service provider for the PredictIt Market, which has operated under No-Action Relief CFTC 14-130 since 2014. 

Requests for the full text of the motion and other press inquiries should be directed to [email protected].

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