(MS) - Qingdao in July is destined to be the world of beer.     

On the evening of July 22, the 32nd Qingdao International Beer Festival “Dynamic Laoshan” Beer Carnival opened in the Century Square Beer City, Laoshan District. The world’s first Metaverse Beer City was also unveiled.

Sense of Science and Technology     

A series of activities, such as  artistic performance, an art parade and drone performance, welcomed visitors from all over the world in the bright night and under a strong festive atmosphere. Chinese and foreign friends, citizens and company representatives attended the opening ceremony and invited friends from all over the world to gather in Laoshan to share the  feast.     

Clemens Baumgaertner, Minister of Labour and Economy of Munich, Germany, and Commander in Chief of Munich Oktoberfest; Didier Bernheim, Academician of the French Academy of Art, Secretary General of the Jean Cardot Arts Foundation and International Economic Consultant of Qingdao Municipal Government, and Karel van Bommel, Agricultural Counsellor of the Dutch Embassy in China, sent congratulatory messages via video and expressed best wishes to the people of Qingdao and the opening of the 32nd Qingdao International Beer Festival “Dynamic Laoshan” Beer Carnival.

Night Shows     

With a naked-eye 3D light and shadow show, pop music performance, “Handmade in Shandong, Good Products in Laoshan” China-fashion market, art carnival flash mob and other wonderful activities, as well as 500 drones shining in the night sky, the colorful technology pictures showed the romantic light and shadow changes of Laoshan and the beer festival, bringing a spectacle to tourists and citizens.

i-Beer Carnival Opens the Metaverse     

The year 2022 is the year when the Metaverse door really opens. The Metaverse is not only the next generation of Internet technology but also the future way of life. In the current consumer market, Gen Z have gradually become the largest group of beer drinkers.     

Laoshan District seized new opportunities for the development of the Metaverse, took advantage of the virtual reality industry, transformed and upgraded digital cultural tourism and developed the Metaverse Qingdao International Beer Festival (also known as the “i-Beer Carnival”), which is the first Metaverse online digital experience platform of the Qingdao International Beer Carnival.     

The square set up beer garden brand digital venues, and offered  Augerta and Münchener Bier  (beer) brands, virtual interactive scenes, allowing for online and offline interaction, as well as virtual and real fusion experiences, and allowed visitors to participate in the activities of the Qingdao International Beer Festival across time and space.

Joy Becomes the “Yeast”     

Beer encounters with passion, and Qingdao cheers with the world. The 32nd Qingdao International Beer Festival “Dynamic Laoshan” Beer Carnival lets you embrace your youth and have an unforgettable tour. Let’s gather at the online Metaverse Qingdao International Beer Festival, enjoy a fun journey in the wonderful dynamic Laoshan District Qingdao, and start a new future.

(NewsUSA) - A unique injectable drug shows promising potential to reduce some of the early brain damage caused by stroke, based on a newly published study using animal models. In other words, human victims of stroke might someday be able to regain or improve bodily functions, including key cognitive abilities.     

Approximately one of every 19 deaths in the United States in 2019 was due to stroke, according to the American Heart Association. The only current FDA-approved drug for treatment of stroke does not repair damage and must be administered within 4.5 hours of stroke onset. When a stroke happens, lack of blood flow to the brain causes the deaths of millions of neurons. Individuals who survive any type of stroke are at an increased risk for debilitating loss of function in areas of speech and language, as well as difficulty with overall motor coordination, walking and cognitive function.     

The new drug, currently known as NVG-291-R, is designed to help repair damage caused to the neurons in the brain after a stroke. Researchers at the University of Cincinnati tested the drug by inducing strokes in mice. They found that the drug not only created new neuronal connections but also enhanced movement of stem cells to the area of the brain damaged by a stroke.     

The results were encouraging, according to the researchers.     

“There was significant improvement in motor and sensory function in the mice -- essentially the ability to walk, grasp objects and detect the presences of objects on their paws.  Additionally, there was an improvement in spatial learning and memory,” they said in a press release.     

Another encouraging finding was that the drug was similarly effective when given up to seven days after the stroke occurred. Most other treatments in development for stroke damage must be administered within 24 to 48 hours of a stroke to be effective, the researchers noted.       

The drug was developed by NervGen, a biotech company focused on treatments to promote nervous system repair.     “The current standard of care for stroke is one approved drug administered to less than 10% of those suffering, and it only works by limiting ongoing damage in those receiving it,” says NervGen’s  CEO, Paul Brennan.     

“If the meaningful recovery of function shown in this study translates in a clinical setting, our drug will redefine stroke therapy.”     

The study findings were published in the medical journal Cell Reports.       

Visit nervgen.com for more information about evolving treatments for nervous system damage from injury or disease.

(NewsUSA) - A century ago, it was common for the affluent to take a months-long Grand Tour to see the sights of Europe.     

Today, a typical vacation averages two weeks or less -- not long enough to experience the highlights of Europe-- or is it?     

On a seven-day Mediterranean cruise, you can visit theTrevi Fountain in Rome, the lavender fields of Provence and Barcelona’s famous cathedrals, with side trips to the Italian riviera and a Spanish vineyard.     

With international airfares decreasing, parity between the dollar and euro for the first time in decades and a new generation of cruise ships plying its waters, a Mediterranean cruise vacation has never been more attractive, accessible or affordable.

Convenient and Inclusive     

On a cruise, you unpack once and you’re done. No lugging baggage from hotel to hotel or bus to train. Plus, your meals, on-board activities and entertainment are included in the cruise fare.

A Different Country (Almost) Every Day     

A typical seven-day Mediterranean cruise will have five or six port calls in several countries. Cruise lines design shore excursions to maximize time in port, getting you to the sites you want to see efficiently and safely, and ensuring your timely return to the ship. Amazing Value     

With the euro on par with the dollar for the first time in 20 years, your vacation budget can go farther than ever. For example, for North American consumers, Costa cruises are sold in dollars, but shipboard spending is in euros. Parity means your dollar buys as much as a euro, which can mean up to 30% in savings.     

Also, Costa makes it easy to recoup the value-added tax, or VAT, charged in European Union countries on-board, skipping long lines at the airport.     

In terms of value, Costa’s offers are unparalleled in the Med. Savvy shoppers can find cruise fares of about $100 to $150 per person per day -- and some as low as $65 --with other deals in which kids sail free or amenities and add-ons such as drink packages and on-board credits are included in the fare.     

Sailing the Mediterranean for more than 70 years, Costa Cruises is the undisputed leader in the region, offering more new ships and more itineraries than any other cruise line.       

For an immersive, European experience of the Mediterranean on an authentically Italian-style cruise, contact your travel professional, visit costacruises.com or call Costa Cruises North America at 1-800-GO-COSTA (800-462-6782).

(NewsUSA) - As the sun rises in middle America, nature comes to life. Ducks, geese and other birds emerge from a marsh, taking flight into a golden sky, while prairie grasses whisper in the morning breeze and insects begin to hum.     

The growing cacophony of honks, quacks, chirps and splashes is music to Jason Black’s ears. As public land manager of the McPherson Valley Wetlands in central Kansas, they are proof that this habitat is thriving.     

“This is a special place,” says Black. “I get to watch it grow through the seasons, watch the birds come and go. Everything from our state bird, the meadowlark, to whooping cranes to a number of species of ducks and geese and shorebirds when water conditions and migration are lined up just right.”     

These public wetlands were recently improved through a public-private partnership thanks in big part to one of the nation’s largest clean energy infrastructure companies, Williams. The company’s generous contribution allowed Ducks Unlimited to seek matching funds to restore several areas that are critical to waterfowl during spring and fall migrations.     

The wetlands project included restoration of approximately 160 acres of previously drained and cropped agricultural fields. New water-control infrastructure was installed and prairie seeds planted to improve wildlife habitat for quail, pheasants and other grassland birds, along with pollinators.     

The marsh is the first of a series of connected wetlands in the complex and will help improve water downstream. The wetlands in the area provide critical resources for migrating waterfowl and other birds along the Central Flyway, along with outdoor recreation for residents and visitors.     

“We take great pride in being responsible environmental stewards and are honored to support Ducks Unlimited,” says Matthew Baker, manager of engineering at Williams. “Doing what is right for our local communities is part of who we are at Williams, and this collaboration is one of the many ways we aim to preserve resources for future generations while making a positive impact today.”     

The wetland restoration is one of many environmental stewardship and sustainability projects that Williams is supporting along its nationwide footprint. Others include planting seedlings, building hiking trails, developing wildlife crossings and funding intercity marine education programs.     

For more information, visit www.williams.com/sustainability.

(NewsUSA) -  

"Where the Sky Begins”
by Rhys Bowen       

A woman’s future is determined by fate and choice in a gripping WWII novel about danger, triumph, and second chances by the NYT bestselling author of “The Venice Sketchbook” and “The Tuscan Child.”  

London, 1940. Bombs fall and Josie Banks’s world crumbles. Evacuated to the English countryside, Josie ends up at the estate of Miss Harcourt, a reluctant host to survivors of the Blitz. Josie convinces Miss Harcourt to let her open a humble tea shop. But when Josie meets Mike Johnson, a handsome Canadian pilot, a growing intimacy brings her an inner peace. Then her husband suddenly returns from the war.  

A dangerous secret is about to upend Josie’s life, and her newfound courage will be put to the test.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3M8GFZ2.

“The Kitchen Is Closed and Other Benefits of Being Old”
by Sandra Butler  

In this funny and intensely personal collection of essays, Butler chronicles her experience moving from aging to old, remembering and forgetting all the wrong things, feeling frustrated with technology, keeping up with the avalanche of cultural and political news, mothering two middle-aged daughters, surveying her old body and ultimately, preparing for her death.  

With its sharp humor and refreshing honesty, this is a must-read for aging women, eldercare workers and adult children who want to gain a fuller sense of their mother’s life. Old women are cast aside in white American culture, Butler argues, and it’s both disheartening and disrespectful. Butler is not a senior -- she’s a mother, a lesbian, a Jew, a feminist, and at times, a “rabble-rousing hectorer.”

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3yeJuCg.

“On Full Automatic: Surviving 13 Months in Vietnam”
by William V. Taylor Jr.  

Vietnam 1967-68. Eighteen-year-old Marine recruit William V.Taylor Jr. and his brother are Marines assembled into a new reaction force that is immediately tested in the fire of a bloody conflict known as Operation Beaver Cage. After a traumatic first fight, they push through back-to-back operations with little time to rest or reflect. Those who survive will return home with everlasting memories of a nightmare.  

Fifty years later, Taylor shares his experience in explicit and often horrific detail and with a reverent honor for those who did not live to tell the tale. Taylor reveals what it means to walk the path of a warrior, to sacrifice, and live with the memories of a war.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3LySfMa.

“Mindful Beauty”
by Dr. Debbie Palmer  

Relax, Let Go, and Become Your Most Beautiful Self.

Mindfulness is a simple change we can all make for better health -- emotionally, physically, and spiritually. New York-based dermatologist Dr. Debbie Palmer unveils her secrets to helping her patients develop more mindfulness and cultivate inner peace and outer radiance.   Today, mindfulness -- the act of being more present and focused in everything we do -- is important to our well-being. This book is a practical, hands-on guide to looking and feeling more beautiful in the modern-day world. It provides simple self-care tips and shows how to work with essential oils, crystals, chakras, nutrition and more as you make positive changes in body, mind and spirit. Purchase at https://qvc.co/3MIiQrI. NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

(NewsUSA) -  For young adults starting out, money management can be a challenge. You may be navigating rent, car payments, monthly bills, food and also student loans. Many young adults are looking to refinance student loans to combine multiple debts, maximize interest rates, bring down monthly payments, or pay off faster. There are many benefits to refinancing and many options for lenders that offer refinancing.     

Refinancing your student loans lets you take advantage of the best prices as rates change. Lantern, a loan comparison platform operated by digital personal finance company SoFi, lets you compare rates and find a plan that works for you. When looking to refinance student loans, borrowers should compare lenders and rates to find the best option for their situation. A few tips for anyone looking to refinance this year:     

- Use filters when comparing online. Make a smart decision on refinancing your student loans by comparing multiple options side- by-side using filter on financing options based on lowest or highest payment, lowest or highest APR, and lowest or highest term. The right refinancing strategy can help young adults save thousands of dollars over time.     

- Find advice, useful tips and information through curated financial articles and calculators, comparisons of lenders and products by expert journalists and reviews from others who have used these services to refinance student loans. You’ll also find financial recommendations based on your financial interests and current financial situation.     

Financially savvy young adults also are leading the way in adopting cryptocurrency as a way to generate income streams and invest in the future. The NFT marketplace is a growing opportunity, and those who are early adopters are exploring, collecting, and minting NFTs for profit. NFTs are bought in sold in trading platforms much like you would buy and trade crypto or stocks.     

Some bonus features of the NFT marketplace that appeal to young adults include the convenience of not have to connect to, or withdraw from, a bank account. The NFT marketplace allows users to pay for products via cryptocurrency without additional fees. The FTX exchange is connected to multiple cryptocurrency markets including Bitcoin, Ethereum and Solana.     

Keep these smart strategies in mind to make the most of your money now and to enjoy greater savings and profits in the future.