(NewsUSA)

"Sins of the Fathers"
by Herbert J. Stern and Alan A. Winter

In the tradition of Herman Wouk, this eye-opening historical sequel to "Wolf" tells the dramatic true story of the foolish prime minister who undermined the coup to topple Hitler, delivered Czechoslovakia to Hitler, saved the Führer's life and paved the road to World War II.

When Neville Chamberlain refused to meet with German military leaders, career civil servants and clergy to solicit England's assistance to bring down Hitler in 1938, they turned to Winston Churchill. Waiting for Hitler's telephone call ordering troops to invade Czechoslovakia, the signal for their uprising, the call never came. Bestselling author Steve Berry calls it "a masterful blend of fact and fiction that will have you thinking about it long after the last page is read." Purchase at https://amzn.to/3xi0I0Z.

"A Tree's Tale"
by Ellen Zaroff

Incest and rage.

Every family has secrets, and these families are no exception. Three generations, two families intertwined, hidden truths and half-told tales span the decades of these two families.

Marmy's two children are distant from her and harbor secrets from each other as well as their parents. When unspeakable events bring out some of the truths, events unravel in ways that bring about addiction, banishment and a new limb of the family tree.

As fates take control, the next generation tries to learn from what has transpired, but history repeats itself. As the roots of a tree feed the limbs that make up these families, they also eventually define and shape them all. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3HwEblE.

"Honor Through Sacrifice"
by Robert E. Lofthouse

"A man can fight if he can see daylight down the road somewhere," said President Lyndon Johnson. "But there ain't no daylight in Vietnam -- there's not a bit." As he said that, he was committing the first U.S. ground combat units and initiating a massive bombing campaign in North Vietnam. Unaware of Johnson's misgivings, Gordon Lippman dutifully entered Vietnam as an Infantry Division executive officer.

Lippman was the man soldiers wanted to follow, a stud from small-town America to become a leading member of "The Greatest Generation."

This is a sweeping story on the broad landscape of twentieth-century compromise, accommodation, and conflict, from the allied war in Europe to the forgotten victory in Korea to the televised dinnertime war in Vietnam. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3Gtv4BD.

"Kaleidoscopic Shades"
by David A. Neuman

Eleven years following the cataclysmic event that ripped apart the state of South Australia, taking civilization and society to the brink of no return, the Triplow family has finally found peace. Settling down has ensured that the past horrors of Hastings, South Australia, remain relegated to another time, another place.

That false perception is shattered when Bob Triplow is forced to face those things buried deep within himself. He will take his son on a journey back to his past, and the horrors of his childhood. A place truly out of this world, where life is manipulated with brutal destructiveness.

Within this dark, boundless dimension, Bob will learn that past events always find a way of catching up. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3qWBXnY.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Last year was challenging for so many people, but thanks to the generosity of the American public, life was a lot brighter for millions of less fortunate children. Struggling families who were already contending with stressful circumstances also had to cope with a turbulent economy and the ongoing impact of the pandemic.

"On behalf of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, the United States Marine Corps, and the millions of less fortunate children who experienced the joy of Christmas, I extend my heartfelt appreciation to each and every one of you," said Lieutenant General Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in a general statement thanking the public.

"The tremendous support we received from the American public and our Corporate Sponsors enabled us to distribute an unprecedented 22.4 million toys, books, and games to nearly 8.8 million children in need. But you did more than provide gifts, you also sent messages of hope and restored self-worth to those less fortunate," adds LtGen Laster.

Toys for Tots' initiatives in 2021 included not only continuing to be the flagship children's Christmastime charity, but also seizing opportunities to provide comfort and relief to families in need during uncertain and unstable times outside of the holiday season.

The Program even provided toys, books and other gifts to nearly 18,000 children of the Afghanistan refugee families who have been granted asylum in the United States. As these families began adjusting to their new lives in America, Toys for Tots provided hope and joy during unsettling and scary times.

As a way to expand Toys for Tots' reach and support for underserved areas, the Program also stood ready to respond in emergency situations.

Toys for Tots provided support to the people of Arkansas, Illinois, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri and Tennessee who were impacted by devasting tornados in 2021. Many of the affected families lack the resources to recover, and the financial and emotional impact will be long-lasting, especially with the ongoing challenges of scarce resources and COVID-19 concerns. Toys for Tots was able to provide compassionate support and hope to these families with distribution of toys, books and other gifts to their children.

These and other activities are just part of the Marine Toys for Tots efforts to provide year-round hope to families in need.

The Toys for Tots Literacy Program delivered 3.1 million books to Title 1 schools and children in need, and the Native American Program supported 186,000 children on remote Reservations.

Toys for Tots could not have reached these tremendous milestones without the support of the American public, the Marines and volunteers who led 832 local campaigns, and their National Corporate Partners. The generosity of the Program's supporters made an incredible difference to struggling families and their children -- when they needed joy and hope the most.

Toys for Tots still needs your help to deliver joy and support to millions of less fortunate children.

Please donate today by visiting toysfortots.org.

(NewsUSA) - In the wake of thrilling playoff games, football has never been hotter, and TUMS is in on the competitive action with its popular TUMSworthy Big Game Trivia contest.

The contest takes place on Twitter and offers fans a chance to win up to $88,000 in prizes.

The contest kicked off in advance of game day with a special head-to-head trivia matchup between football legends Terrell Davis and Hines Ward. Comedian and television personality Scott Rogowsky hosted the livestreamed event via @TUMSOfficial. Rogowsky will keep the questions coming as he hosts TUMSworthy Big Game Trivia on Big Game Sunday.

"I've always enjoyed the thrill of competition, and the trivia battle with Terrell Davis took me back to the gridiron," says Hines?Ward.

"I'm happy to get the win, but even more honored to support TUMS® and get fans excited for TUMSworthy Big Game Trivia on Sunday."

Davis relished the trivia battle, too.

"I had so much fun competing against Hines, but I can't wait for fans to have their chance to get in on the action. TUMSworthy Big Game Trivia is a great way for fans to enjoy their Big Game experience this year," he adds.

Fans can join any time before Big Game Sunday by registering on Twitter @TUMSOfficial.

Shortly before kickoff and during the Big Game, TUMS® will live tweet links from the @TUMSOfficial Twitter handle. Each tweet contains a unique link that sends players to a microsite, where they answer multiple-choice trivia questions and get instant feedback on their answers. Each correct answer equals one entry into the sweepstakes, and one grand-prize winner will be drawn randomly to receive a $56,000 cash prize. Participants also will have a chance to win part of an additional $32,000 in prizes throughout the game.

Players can share their standing on the live leaderboard via Twitter using #TUMSworthyTrivia, creating a fun and competitive community for players across the country or in the same room. In tweeting, participants also get one extra entry into the sweepstakes.

"TUMS® helps fans enjoy the Big Game to the fullest, not only by providing fast-acting and powerful relief of heartburn, but also by delivering engaging ways to elevate their game day experience," explains Amy Sharon, Director at TUMS.®

Visit TUMS.com for more information on TUMS® antacid products.

Hint: It's all about a new certification.

1.Right now, the beauty industry creates more than 877 pounds of waste every single minute in the U.S. and Canada.

That's over 421,000 pounds a day.

And we're not just talking hair (though there's 63,000 pounds of clippings alone). There's also excess hair color, lightener and toner (over 42,000 pounds) … used metal like hair foils, color tubes and aerosol cans (over 110,000 pounds) … And don't get us started about all the other stuff, including the personal protective equipment like gloves, masks and disinfectant wipes the staff has been running through since the coronavirus hit.

2.All that waste doesn't just magically disappear on its own.

It winds up going straight into landfills and potentially our drinking water.

Both of which can happen when all that extra hair color, lightener and toner are rinsed down the drain.

3.But wait! The first industry-wide Sustainable Salon Certification in North America lets you know which salons are doing their part to reduce their environmental footprint and become carbon neutral.

It's issued by Green Circle Salons, a beauty waste recovery service founded 12 years ago to help salons in Canada and the United States recycle and repurpose up to 95 percent of such waste. And now they're even offsetting participating salons' carbon emissions for free.

Here's how it works.

Metals are melted down into aluminum sheets or bars to be used to make products like car parts and bicycles.

Excess hair color is turned into clean energy or separated into water and oil, with the water cleaned and returned to the water system.

Personal protective equipment is likewise turned into clean energy, and any resulting ash can be used to make asphalt, bricks and other construction material.

And all that hair? Turns out lots can be done with it instead of just letting garbage bags full of sweepings produce greenhouse gases while trying to break down.

It can be turned into bio-composite plastic to make things like recycling bins, for example, or used to research and develop new environmental technology such as insulation and stormwater filtration. Heck, it can even be made into products targeted for humanitarian efforts.

"We give beauty waste a new life," says Shane Price," Green Circle Salons' founder and CEO, noting that you can easily find a nearby Certified Sustainable salon online. "Salons that obtain this certification prove to their clients and employees that they're proud to be sustainably responsible and are putting in the effort to make a crucial impact on the environment."

4.Salons displaying this decal in their window serve as an alert that you're helping to create a better world - and that those eco-warriors will love you for having your highlights done there.

In fact, according to a recent Market Research study, 88 percent of beauty professionals think it's important to work in a green and sustainable salon or barbershop. And 60 percent of customers said they'd even consider switching salons if they knew all the waste from their visit would be recovered.

(NewsUSA)

"The Lady's Mine"
by Francine Rivers

New York Times bestselling author Francine Rivers returns to the California frontier in this sweeping, romantic tale of a displaced New England suffragette, a former Union soldier disinherited by his Southern family, and the town they join forces to save.

Kathryn Walsh arrives in a tiny mining town in the Sierra Nevadas, coming to claim an inheritance of a defunct newspaper office. The town is overflowing with brothels and saloons, and a seemingly worthless mine. Kathryn relaunches her uncle's newspaper and finds herself pitted against the town's most powerful men.

When local saloon and hotel owner Matthias Beck keeps finding himself on the same side of the issues as the opinionated Miss Walsh, his restless search for purpose becomes all about answering the call of his heart. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3GBwObY.

"Specters of Sapience"
by Alex Hackett

The Sapience series is a dark, mature twist on the magical school concept. In the second book of the series, a big story is compressed into a quick read that alternates between jolting moments of terror and deep moments of love and self-reflection, which will resonate with any reader.

Around Sapience University, fallen combatants are emerging from their graves as undead creatures called Lifeless. Some hope to resurrect the Lifeless, while others want to return them to their graves. When everyone returns to Sapience for the winter semester, some students seem eerily different. Students continue their magical studies unaware that enemies walk among them. However, it won't be long until the enemy strikes and sends the school back into chaos. Visit www.spiritsofsapience.com.

"Terriers in the Jungle"
by Georja Umano

Roxie and Romeo, two spunky dogs, ponder, philosophize and crack jokes as they express underlying feelings of loneliness, fear and love. We watch them transform from unwanted street canines to beloved companions and pets. The two adore each other, their home and their mom Kate.

But Kate, being an ardent animal conservationist, decides the family will move to Kenya to help save endangered elephants. The dogs must now learn to survive in the midst of wildlife, dangerous people and circumstances far from most American dogs' understanding. We experience their journey as they adapt and grow into international heroes, in their own words. Inspired by real events! Purchase at https://amzn.to/3EJjPTB.

"Comfort in the Wings"
by Jennifer Collins

"A story of love, loss and the possibility of redemption that brings home the feeling of loss in a way that no words can truly express."

Larissa Whitcomb flounders in the wake of unimaginable losses. Forget about coping; she can barely function. Life as she has known it evaporates, and she isolates herself from work and friends. Aware, however, of the dangers of her bleak existence, she reluctantly agrees to embark on a unique business opportunity, which becomes Larissa's journey of grieving.

She will be challenged by unwelcome encounters, confronted by emerging secrets and emotions and startled to find joy in the most unexpected places. Can her battered heart open to new possibilities? Purchase at https://amzn.to/3yTWEo9.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Each winter, unpredictable weather creates an avalanche of logistical and financial problems for local governments.

As the COVID-19 pandemic persists, these challenges are compounded by staffing shortages due to illness and quarantine. Local government officials struggle to find ways to keep their streets clear and safe, while meeting the expectations of local schools, businesses and residents, and managing spiraling costs.

However, the easy-to-use technology that has fueled the success of ride-sharing services is making inroads, so to speak, in snowplow fleet management and delivering a real difference for U.S. cities and towns this winter.

SNOWiQ, an Uber-like mobile application, helps municipalities quickly boost and manage their snowplow fleets. The program can match available plows and drivers with the snowy streets that need them most, enhancing local resources with the help of on-demand area contractors. The system clears the way for any resident or contractor with a truck and plow attachment to receive approval to plow city streets -- and get in on the action (and the income) of keeping wintery roads safe.

One notable example of the utility of SNOWiQ can be found in Montgomery County, Maryland, a suburb of Washington, DC, that requires its full-time snow removal fleet to scale on a moment's notice.

The county turned to EastBanc Technologies, developer of SNOWiQ and the TERRAiQ platform whose smart technology fuels SNOWiQ and several other intelligent fleet management solutions, to modernize its operations and enable its field team to provide a fast and effective emergency response during winter storms.

The SNOWiQ application makes it easy to add contractors on an as-needed basis and to equip the entire fleet with the same easy-to-use tool -- a mobile application on their smartphones that is highly visual and shares route progress, updates and new requests in real time.

After completing a pilot, the program was launched full-scale for the Montgomery County Department of Transportation. Full-time county drivers and on-demand contractors receive and report plowing progress from their mobile phones.

This strategy provides local supervisors with a detailed picture that enables maximum efficiency of workforce dispatching and scaling. An added benefit allows residents to access a public-facing SNOWiQ-powered dashboard to see real-time information about area snowstorm response activity.

The success of SNOWiQ highlights the feasibility and promise of mobile technology to help local governments deliver better service and cut costs. When spring comes and the snow stops falling, TERRAiQ technology could even be deployed to support building inspections and leaf removal, along with other on-demand public services.

Visit eastbanctech.com to learn more about SNOWiQ and the TERRAiQ suite of applications that power today's innovative connected experiences and improve our daily lives.

(NewsUSA) - If you have a chronic or recurring infection, getting accurate results of diagnostic tests can make a big difference in your quality of care and quality of life. Patients with infections value the resolution that comes from accurate testing, diagnosis, and good treatment that MicroGenDX's Next-Generation DNA Sequencing (NGS) enables.

When a patient is infected, they will usually be prescribed an antibiotic or antifungal by their healthcare provider. These antimicrobials are often chosen based on culturing, growing the specimen in a petri dish. There are limitations to this 150-year-old technology that MicroGenDX is helping to solve.

MicroGenDX uses DNA sequencing technology to identify all bacteria and fungi in a sample from an infected patient, no growth required. NGS detects many microbes that cultures often miss. This provides a patient's physician with a more comprehensive result enabling appropriate and optimized therapy.

"Our mission at MicroGenDX is to improve clinical outcomes by offering clinicians and their patients the most informative and impactful microbial diagnostic tests that science can provide," says CEO Rick Martin. MicroGenDX makes a difference for patients like Kelsey, who struggled with a urinary tract infection so painful that it left her bedridden. When Kelsey finally received the correct antibiotic to treat her infection based on MicroGenDX test results, she was able to recover and return to a pain-free life.

"What makes MicroGenDX unique is our curated database of over 50,000 microbes, our improved turnaround time, our patient-friendly price point, and our clinical research data that strongly supports the clinical utility of Next-Generation Sequencing," Martin emphasizes.

Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) is a technology that allows for more specific identification of disease-causing organisms than the traditional cultures and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) genetic tests used by many labs. Although the technology itself is not new, MicroGenDX, which has been in business for 12 years, has made NGS possible for use in an everyday clinical setting. In the past, NGS technology was expensive and time-consuming. Today, NGS is used by a variety of major companies and research institutions, including NASA, through MicroGenDX, and MicroGenDX is helping to open the door for the use of NGS in clinical medicine.

MicroGenDX provides results for diagnoses related to urinary tract infections (UTI), prostate infections, hip and knee infections, wound infections, sinus infections, lung infections and more. The company continues to conduct research to expand the evidence base for the technology, with more than 35 published clinical studies and more than 40 ongoing clinical trials.

MicroGenDX's NGS has a number of benefits over traditional culture and PCR labs:

- Accuracy. The MicroGenDX test matches patient samples against its microbial database of 50,000 species for maximum accuracy in the NGS results.

- Affordability. The MicroGenDX offers low rates for both qPCR and NGS to help clinicians and patients control costs without sacrificing quality.

- Speed. MicroGenDX has the quickest turn around time of any NGS provider on the market at 3-5 business days for most NGS samples.

- Variety. The MicroGenDX lab accepts a broad range of samples and can provide information on hard to culture and uncommon bacterial and fungal species, including Mycobacterium and Molds.

- Antibiotic Resistance: MicroGenDX recognizes the threat that antimicrobial resistant organisms present to current medicine and the over 35,000 deaths a year it causes. The use of NGS allows for targeted antibiotic treatment that helps combat the growing issue of antibiotic resistance. MicroGenDX also detects the presence of 17 antibiotic resistance genes allowing clinicians to avoid ineffective treatments.

Visit microgendx.com for more information about the company's services, and check them out on social media via Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

(NewsUSA) - The to-do list for newly engaged couples can be daunting. Finding a venue, booking a caterer, choosing a dress -- there are many details that need to be factored into a wedding budget, regardless of who is paying. Starting a new life together is a perfect opportunity to establish solid financial habits that will serve you well throughout your marriage.

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional can help couples develop a smart plan to manage engagement and wedding expenses. Setting priorities early on can help avoid conflicts as the big day approaches. Start by considering these four elements of planning for wedding expenses:

• Make a list. Write down everything you both need or want for your dream wedding. That includes items large and small, from the number of guests to the types of flowers or favors.
• Rank the list. Now that you have your list, put things in order of priority. Assign a number to each item in order of importance, such as a live band, sit-down dinner or elaborate cake. Or start by sorting needs and wants into categories, using 1 as most important, 2 as moderately important and 3 as least important. You will need to agree on the most important items, whatever those may be.
• Budget the list. Assign an estimated price to each category or item, according to how much you are able and willing to spend. Consider cutting back on flowers in order to fund a sit-down dinner, for instance, or opt for a buffet-style dinner so you can invite more guests.
• Listen to the lists. This is the time to be a good listener. Hear what your partner has to say about needs and wants; what is important to one of you may not be as important to the other. Financial compromise is a skill that will serve you throughout married life.

Data from loan services show that approximately 45% of couples racked up debt to pay for their wedding, and that ultimately the debt resulted in consideration of divorce. Nip that risk in the bud by avoiding debt when you assess your wedding expenses. A CFP® professional can help you think outside the box and guide you in making smart financial choices during the wedding planning process.

Visit LetsMakeAPlan.org for more information about managing wedding expenses and planning your financial future.

(NewsUSA)

"The characters are well-developed and smart ... even the very minor characters have backstories ... Very enjoyable!" -The Cozy Mystery Blog

The Dulcie Chambers Mystery series is perfect for anyone who loves following along with an unconventional amateur detective as she solves the classiest whodunnits you've ever read. It's also perfect for those who want a splattering of the art world mingling with their mysteries, satisfying penchants for stylishness while learning about anything from oil painting to falconry.

Author Kerry J Charles' background more than qualifies her to pen artistic mysteries steeped in uncanny depths of knowledge. She has worked as a researcher, writer and editor for National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution, Harvard University and several major textbook publishers. She holds four degrees and has carried out research in many of the world's art museums as a freelance writer and scholar.

AN ART CURATOR TURNED SLEUTH EXTRAORDINAIRE 

Charles threw the doors wide open with her first novel, "An Exhibit of Madness," (2013) starring the cultivated curator Dr. Dulcinea Chambers. Dulcie just opened a new exhibit of watercolors at the Maine Museum of Art. Everything seems poised for success until she discovers a corpse where the painting should have been and, worst of all, she's one of the primary suspects.

Dulcie wouldn't consider herself a heroine but is forced to be her own when her life takes this crazy turn. She joins forces with Police Detective Nicholas Black to clear her name, and soon her sleuthing becomes a recurring habit. Detective Black gets pulled in and becomes an ongoing character throughout the series in Dulcie's mysterious misadventures.

Book Two sees her seeking the truth about a stolen van Gogh painting found with a dead scuba diver, all while traversing the stormy seas of love in "From the Murky Deep." Things get even more complicated in the compelling third book, "The Fragile Flower." BookTrib's review affirms that "Readers will be inspired by Dulcie's resourcefulness and determination in achieving her goals, and stick around for the relationships she cultivates … Charles skillfully blends information about art history and painting technique into her exciting whodunnit that will keep readers guessing until the very end."

Luckily, it's not the end of the intrigue. The next book, "A Mind Within," showcases Dulcie stretching her creative muscles into the unusual genre of Outsider Art. An old boyfriend then brings more than just personal drama when he pops over from Scotland for a visit in "Last of the Vintage." Falconry is an unexpected art form that flies into action in the equally captivating "The Hand That Feeds You." Finally, "Bolt From the Blue" adds high fashion and even opera into the eclectic mix.

A COLLAGE OF ART, MURDER AND A BIT OF ROMANCE 

Charles crafts characters with detailed and nuanced personalities as well as contexts equally as interesting as the plot twists. Stay tuned for the next scrape that Dr. Chambers manages to get into (and out of) when the eighth novel comes calling. Dive in at www.kerryjcharles.com. 

BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Now more than ever, health and wellness are on everyone's mind. To support your immune system, it's important to follow a healthy diet that includes vitamins, minerals, fiber and protein. One easy way to get plant-based protein is from peanuts and peanut butter.

Peanuts are known as a superfood because they deliver significant nutritional value in a small amount. One serving of peanuts is an ounce or approximately 35 peanuts and a serving of peanut butter is two tablespoons. Just one serving of peanuts delivers seven grams of protein, 19 vitamins and minerals, fiber and heart-healthy fats.

"Studies conducted in the United States and around the world reveal that eating peanuts regularly helps prevent disease, improves life expectancy and delivers positive effects throughout the body," says Dr. Samara Sterling, a nutrition scientist and research director with The Peanut Institute.

"When you have foods such as peanuts and peanut butter that deliver plant protein, fiber and healthy fats, you're making a smart choice that will keep you feeling full and help power you through the day," Dr. Sterling adds.

Peanuts not only contribute vitamins and minerals, but they provide energy and help support muscle repair, she emphasizes.

Peanuts can also be good for your mind as well as your body.

"When you break down the nutritional structure of peanuts, they have a unique combination of vitamins, minerals and bioactive compounds, including arginine, resveratrol, niacin, vitamin E and coumaric acids, that can contribute to cognition and mental health," explains Dr. Sterling.

A study published in 2021 in the journal Clinical Nutrition suggests that peanut and peanut butter consumption may improve cognitive function and reduce stress, based on data from healthy young adults.

Adding peanuts and peanut butter to your diet is easy.

Visit peanutinstitute.com for more information and for breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert and snack ideas.

Meanwhile, check out this recipe for Peanut Butter Tart with Chocolate Crust and Strawberries:

You need:

• 1 cup Medjool dates, seeds removed
• 1 cup peanuts, unsalted
• 1/3 cup cocoa powder
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons water
• 4 ounces low fat cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/2 cup Greek yogurt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 2 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 cup strawberries, diced
• Chopped peanuts for garnishing

1. Combine the dates and peanuts in a food processor, and blend into small pieces.
2. Add cocoa powder, brown sugar and water into the food processor and blend until it takes a dough form.
3. Press crust into the base of a pie tin, working up the edges.
4. Place crust in the freezer while you combine filling.
5. For pie filling, combine remaining ingredients in the food processor or mixer. (Make sure cream cheese and butter are completely softened before mixing.) Blend until all ingredients are incorporated and creamy.
6. Fill pie crust with the filling, smoothing out the top. Garnish with chopped peanuts and strawberries.
7. Refrigerate until set. Serve cold.