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DILBERT ScottAdams PEARLSBEFORESWINE StephanPastis PICKLES BrianCrane BABYBLUES JerryScott&RickKirkman THEDUPLEX GlennMcCoy ZITS JerryScott&JimBorgman SHERMAN'SLAGOON JimToomey ARGYLESWEATER ScottHilburn BIZARRO DanPiraro DEARREADERS»Manyof us are now in the recovery mode of the holiday sea- son — after attending and hosting holiday events, gorging on gingerbread men and eggnog and letting the glitter of the season release us from December's gloom. In the spirit of the season, I present my annual roundup of charitable organiza- tions readers should con- sider supporting. Your donation may go farther at a small local nonprofit than at a large charity. All contributions count. So do non-mone- tary acts of kindness, such as shoveling a neighbor's walk, bringing a casse- role to a grieving person, or simply abiding with someone in need through friendship. This is a subjective list, based on my own interests. Your own giving should reflect your interests and values. Most (but not all) of the organizations listed below have a top rating on Charitynavigator. org, which is an excellent source for researching a charity. Direct Relief (directrelief.org): This charity, which has a sto ried hi story, op erat es in all 50 states and 70 countries, delivering medicine, staffing medical clinics and providing medical safety nets to underserved populations. Operations range from serving in Syria to assisting in the recent wildfires that ravaged Tennessee. Doctors Without Borders (Doctorswithout- borders.org): Many of us have become aware of the work of Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), due to the group's presence in places of high conflict. The organization is currently operating a hospital in Aleppo, Syria, delivering health care to civilians, despite violence. DWB- USA provides aid in nearly 60 countries. International Rescue Committee (rescue.org): Founded in 1933 at the request of Albert Einstein, the IRC delivers lifesaving care to people fleeing conflict and natural di- saster. The IRC worked to resettle refugees in Europe dislocated from conflict in World War II. IRC helps people in crisis and con- tinues the work through refugee resettlement. Polaris (polarisproject. org): I first became aware of the work of Polaris through a family member's advocacy. Human trafficking is modern slavery, and victims are often vulnerable people who are coerced, dislocated and then forced into slavery — often in the sex trade. Law enforcement, clerks and long-haul truckers are now being trained in ways to spot and rescue these individuals. Victims can text BeFree (233733) and be connected with an advocate. Dolly Parton has set up a fund to help victims of Tennessee's wildfires; she promises to give $1,000/ month (for six months) to people who have lost their homes through the "My People Fund" at the Dollywood Foundation (dollywoodfoundation. org). Celebrate the holidays by giving to a worthwhile charity YoucancontactAmy Dickinson via email: askamy@amydickinson. com and follow her on Twitter @askingamy. Amy Dickinson Ask Amy Sudoku Instructions:Theobjectistoplacethe numbers1to9intheemptysquaresso thateachrow,eachcolumnandeach 3x3boxcontainsthenumberonlyonce. AnswertoPreviousPuzzle CelebrityCipher ByLuisCampos Instructions:CelebrityCiphercryptogramsarecreatedfromquotationsbyfamouspeople, pastandpresent.Eachletterinthecipherstandsforanother. NEACrossword Capricorn(Dec.22-Jan. 19) — Take care of any press- ing money matters. Don't leave anything to chance that could cause legal, financial or con- tractual problems. Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 19) — Do something constructive. Offer to help an organization or someone who needs your help and wisdom. Make love and romance a priority. Pisces (Feb. 20-March 20) — Work on personal improve- ments instead of trying to change others. Set the stage for how you are going to head into the new year. Aries (March 21-April 19) — Work-related problems will crop up if you are too forthcom- ing with your opinion. Keep your thoughts to yourself. Taurus (April 20-May 20) — Communicate, say what's on your mind and offer solutions to problems that arise. Your input will make a difference to someone or something you care about. Do something nice for others. Gemini (May 21-June 20) — You'll discover something you enjoy doing and do well. Make an effort to turn a hobby or pastime into a source of income. Personal improvements are favored. Cancer (June 21-July 22) — Don't spend money just because you see a good deal. Holding on to your cash will allow you the freedom to pursue an intriguing opportunity. Leo (July 23-Aug. 22) — Host an event or gather with your peers for a little festive cheer. Doing something with children will bring you joy and improve your relationship with the ones you love. Virgo (Aug. 23-Sept. 22) — Emotional matters will es- calate if someone you live with puts demands on your time. Be polite, but say no or offer alternatives that work better for you. Libra (Sept. 23-Oct. 23) — Short trips, shopping sprees or a new outfit for the end-of-year festivities will make your day. A romantic evening will change things in a big way. Scorpio (Oct. 24-Nov. 22) — Follow through with an idea. The more you accomplish before the end of the year, the easier it will be to finish what you start. A bargain will play into your plans. Sagittarius (Nov. 23-Dec. 21) — Changing the way you live or how you spend your cash will help you put your life back on course. Make stipulations that will encourage others to help you reach your goals. Horoscope By Eugenia Last TUESDAY, DEC. 27 TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2016 REDBLUFFDAILYNEWS.COM |YOURDAILYBREAK | 3 B