(NewsUSA) - Many Native American children living on Reservations in the United States are growing up in unimaginable poverty. High unemployment means limited job opportunities and no income source for their parents, so multigenerational families often live together in small, dilapidated houses. Many of these homes lack running water and telephones. Electricity is scarce, and utility bills often take priority over food and rent.

The generosity of the American public has allowed Toys for Tots to purchase and deliver gifts to Native American children on 60 Reservations. In 2020 alone, the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation purchased $2.2 million in toys, books, and other gifts for children on remote Reservations in 13 states across the country.

"With your help we can help bring joy and hope to even more Native American children this holiday season," says Lieutenant General Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President & CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation.

This season marks the 41st year of the Toys for Tots Native American Program. When the Program began in 1980, the local Reserve unit had only two pickup trucks full of toys. Last year, local campaign Coordinator, LtCol Pete Tagni, USMC (Retired) and his team distributed nearly half a million toys to Native American Children thanks to the generous donations from Toys for Tots supporters. The impact of these donations is far reaching and supports more than 180,000 Native American children annually.

Russ Miller, Marine Corps League National Vice Commandant, experienced the impact of the Toys for Tots Native American Program firsthand. Growing up in a missionary family on a Navajo Reservation, Russ still recalls the arrival of the Toys for Tots Christmas boxes, spilling over with toys, games, and books for the children living on the Reservation. Russ loved the opportunity to "play Santa," distributing gifts to the children whose families came to the mission for other essentials such as clean drinking water and donated clothing -- this experience became an inspiration for Russ. He and his brother went on to join the Marine Corps, and Russ is still making a difference today as a Toys for Tots Coordinator.

The Native American Program has provided new toys, books, and games to children living on Reservations for the last four decades. The support from the American public will help us meet the growing need again this year.

Please visit our donation page to support our Native American program at https://www.toysfortots.org/donate/native_american_program.aspx.

Be sure to follow "Gunny Bear" on the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation Facebook page, where the Toys for Tots spokesbear shares examples of how your support makes a difference.

(TR) -- Some clothes for pets are strictly stylish, some are purely functional, and some are both. The idea of a trucker hat for a dog may seem strange, but in fact many dogs, especially those with blue and light-colored eyes, suffer from sun sensitivity that makes them squint and become anxious in bright conditions.

Tony Choi, an engineer in San Diego, Calif., and his veterinarian wife, Dr. Kathy Burnell, launched the initial PupLid trucker hat for dogs in 2018 to help make dogs comfortable after they found it significantly reduced anxiety in their own sun-sensitive dog, Buddy. They experimented with other dog hats and designs for months, but determined that a modified trucker hat design stayed in place and provided the best protection for Buddy.

The Six-Panel Camo baseball cap for dogs is the latest addition to the PupLid product line for dogs who prefer a more adventure-ready look. Like the trucker hats, the baseball caps will feature a patent pending "Furfect Fit" system for maximum comfort, stability, and adjustability. Dogs with shorter noses have the additional benefit of protection from sunburn and sun induced skin cancers on the nose.

Even dogs who might resist a hat will warm up to it with the right approach, according to Burnell and the PupLid website. Start by letting your dog sniff the PupLid and get used to seeing it. Then, put the hat on the dog's head for a few minutes at time, and use treats and rewards as the dog keeps it on for longer periods.

"When hat wearing is paired with a favorite walk or trip to the park, many dogs start getting excited to see their hat because they know they are about to go on an adventure," says Burnell.

The hats are engineered to stay put with a five point system -- two-points of contact on each side and one under the chin. The hook and loop fastener under the chin allows for a customized fit, and slider loops on the sides allow for further adjustment. PupLid hats are currently available in five sizes, XXS, XS, S, M, and L, but the company will launch a sixth size later this fall to further refine the fit for more dogs. More sizing information is available on the company website.

The company also strives to enhance the style factor to dog hats -- the hats are a seamless extension of baseball caps and trucker hats for people, available in five colors and over ten designs. More custom design options are available from PupLid's growing network of wholesale partners, and dog families can even order their own matching "trucker hats for humans" for the ultimate in coordination.

PupLid is a supplier to retailers as well as organizations seeking a completely unique option to add to their promotional products. Orders of 25 or more can feature a company logo or other design, and preorder options are available to reserve large supplies.

For more information, email [email protected].

(NewsUSA) - The end of summer and beginning of fall is an exciting time for all. With pumpkin picking, hayrides, and spooky festivities to look forward to, it is crucial that everyone is prepared to tackle the onset of cold and flu season so that those crisp-air activities can be fully enjoyed. Dr. Shirin Peters, a NYC internist at Bethany Medical Clinic, provides tips ahead of cold and flu season on how to best prepare and stay healthy.

"Autumn is a fun time to participate in outdoor activities with family and friends, but sometimes we forget that cold and flu season is beginning, and we are not always prepared," says Dr. Peters. "My tips below are designed to help people of all ages be prepared ahead of cold and flu season and remain healthy."

* Get vaccinated. Mask wearing and social distancing contributed to a less-severe-than-normal cold and flu season during 2020-2021, and with COVID-19 restrictions expected to continue to decrease, it is more important than ever to get vaccinated. The CDC recommends all persons aged 6 months and older receive an annual flu vaccine as they are safe and proven to be effective in preventing sickness, and reducing the risk of having flu-like symptoms. The pandemic is ongoing and flu-like symptoms require COVID testing and potential quarantine at home, which is what many seek to avoid.

* Keep your body moving. It is estimated that people who exercise 30 - 45 minutes a day experience 40% - 50% fewer sick days. Whether it be taking a daily walk during your lunch break, jogging in the morning, or attending a workout class with a friend, keeping your body moving will help you avoid getting sick. If you're new to daily exercise, try starting small by incorporating 2-3 workouts/activities a week and gradually increasing over time.

* Stock your medicine cabinet. Take advantage of the time that you are feeling well to prepare your medicine cabinet for when you're not. Throw out any expired medications and replace with fresh decongestants and antihistamines. And be sure to remember to pick up fever and pain relief products as well as a cold shortener so you can get back on your feet quicker. Zicam RapidMelts® and Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Spray® are great products, as they shorten colds versus just temporarily relieving symptoms.

* Stock your pantry. It's important to stock your medicine cabinet in preparation for cold and flu season, but it's also just as important to stock your pantry. Having comfort foods and energizing drinks on hand for when you're not feeling well is crucial in your recovery process. Try stocking up on frozen vegetables, which will provide your body with nutrients when you're feeling sick, ice pops, which will soothe a sore throat, and chicken soup, which will help eliminate chills.

* Create a cleaning routine. It has been proven that cold and flu viruses can survive for days on uncleaned surfaces such as metal, plastic, and wood. So cleaning household surfaces and objects is one of the best precautions you can take to protect yourself and your family from contracting illness. Create a twice- weekly cleaning routine in which you heavily soak countertops, doorknobs, and TV remotes with antibacterial, bleach and hydrogen peroxide products.

About Shirin Peters, M.D.

Shirin Peters, M.D. attended college at New York Medical College and completed her residency at the Former St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan, NY. The following year, she worked at a private practice in North Carolina and learned more about the business of medicine. She returned to New York City and founded Bethany Medical Clinic of New York in 2011. She feels that New Yorkers face unique health challenges and set out to build a model of care that could reduce illness and improve health for New Yorkers and all city-dwellers. She uses her diverse past work experiences, and her understanding.

(NewsUSA) - New Year's Day is a popular time for making resolutions to save more and spend less, but you don't have to wait until January 1 to commit to financial well-being. This October 6, World Financial Planning Day provides the perfect opportunity to refresh your financial plan and set goals for your future.

World Financial Planning Day is dedicated to increasing financial literacy worldwide and helping people understand the value of financial planning, as well as the role a competent and ethical financial planner can play in making sense of your finances.

Experts agree that it's important to periodically review your financial plan to determine if adjustments are needed, particularly given the economic and personal impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. If your circumstances have changed, your financial plan may need to change, too.

A CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional is a highly trained and trusted advisor who can help you get a holistic view of your finances, identify the short- and long-term goals most important to you, and determine if you need a financial refresh to get there.

A CFP® professional can help you set and achieve goals, such as these:

* Afford a comfortable retirement. A CFP® professional can help you take advantage of saving and investing opportunities as you age, estimate your expenses in retirement, and prepare to have enough money to cover those costs for your lifetime.

* Buy a home. CFP® professionals can recommend key insurance, saving and budgeting strategies for buying a home and protecting what you own. They can also advise you on special programs to help reduce housing costs.

* Pay for a child's education. Understanding the tax breaks, savings plans and financial aid options that can make the cost of college more affordable are some of the ways that CFP® professionals can help you reach this goal, in addition to recommending strategies for paying off student loans.

* Start or grow a business. A CFP® professional can provide guidance on retirement savings plans for yourself and your employees, debt financing, succession planning, and adapting your personal financial plan to suit the risks and realities of owning a business.

* Get out of debt. CFP® professionals work with you to determine which debts to focus on repaying first and how to reduce what you pay in interest.

Visit LetsMakeAPlan.org to find a CFP® professional and learn more about how they can help you reach your goals by bringing all the pieces of your financial life together. Then you can mark this World Financial Planning Day as the kickoff to working with a competent, ethical financial planner to map out your financial future.

(NewsUSA) -Imagine this. You are driving through a dark tunnel on a stormy night with the glare from rain and headlights making it difficult to see. What if your car could see for you and detect a motorcyclist who's waiting out the rain on the side of the road in the tunnel? Well, the good news is that the mobility tech company, Magna, is the first company to design a digital radar technology that can do just that.

ICON Radar offers drivers an added layer of safety and security on the road. Your car might already have sensors that flash in your rearview mirror when a car is in your blind spot, or that beep when someone passes behind you in a parking lot. ICON Radar takes this kind of vehicle-sensing technology to a whole new level. It can scan a car's environment 50 times faster than the blink of a human eye. And because it's digital, the signal is sure to be strong and reliable -- such as cell phones when they shifted from using analog signals to digital ones.

A vehicle with ICON Radar can actually scan the environment around your vehicle in four dimensions: distance, height, depth and speed. That helps it see objects such as a shredded tire on the road ahead of you, or that motorcyclist hiding from the rain in that dark tunnel. When obstacles are detected, drivers get an alert so they can take evasive action and safely steer clear of the danger.

This technology can detect an object just 12 inches high from 164 feet away, a pedestrian more than a football field length down the road and another car ahead of you from more than three football fields away.

It can also separate objects and detect if a person or bicyclist is next to a guardrail or a motorcycle in between two semi-trucks.

We can all use some help staying safe on the roads. Magna is bringing new technology to the road to do just that as we head down the path toward full autonomy.

(MS) - Located in eastern China, Jiangxi Province is a place with abundant resources, rich cultural background, and outstanding people. Jingdezhen, the world's capital of ceramics, is a small city in the mountains of Jiangxi.

More than 1,000 years before the Europeans mastered porcelain manufacturing techniques, the ancient Chinese people in Changnan (The ancient name of Jingdezhen) had already shown their talents in making exquisite ceramics. Over time, through trade and interaction with outsiders, Changnan, or a corrupted pronunciation of the name, came to be used by outsiders to refer to porcelain -- or "china."

There is no doubt that Jingdezhen is a must-visit when you travel to Jiangxi because it will guide you to a meaningful journey of historical culture and ancient art, presenting a unique cultural tourism experience for tourists.

Jingdezhen is a city renowned for its more than 1,700-year history of porcelain making. Every visitor will be amazed by its 1,000-year history of official-run kilns, and 600-year history of imperial kilns.

From the past few centuries to the present, countless porcelain makers have come to Jingdezhen to explore and pursue the ultimate in porcelain making. Ceramic culture permeates every corner of the old city, creating a unique, precious, and complete cultural heritage system of porcelain.

Artists who have come to Jingdezhen to learn porcelain making are known as "jingpiao", and foreigners as "yangjingpiao." To date, there are more than 30,000 jingpiao living in Jingdezhen, including 5,000 foreigners, who have found their dreams and realized their value of life in this precious city.

Camille Grandaty is a French artist. Her first visit to Jingdezhen was 10 years ago, bringing her unforgettable memories. She has moved between Amsterdam, London and Brussels before she settled down in Jingdezhen in 2015.

Camille says the vibrant and free artistic vibe of Jingdezhen made her stay.

"The ancient kiln imbues bricks with a unique touch and spirit, and the ancient ceramic heritage here fills me with creativity," notes Ryan Matthew Mitchell, an American ceramist.

Now, strolling around the alleyways of Jingdezhen to explore the local ceramic culture has become a regular activity in his spare time.

Ryan LaBar from the United States says coming to Jingdezhen is like "a son returning home."

The 43-year-old gentleman set up a studio in Taoxichuan, a renovated porcelain factory that unifies industrial heritage, ceramic and arts-crafts galleries and studios as well as restaurants, cafeterias and hotels.

Partnering with a young Chinese businessman, LaBar established Lab Artz, a 260-square-meter workshop where he plans to house more artists and offer ceramics classes.

With more than a 1,700-year history of porcelain making, Jingdezhen has now shouldered a new mission in the new era. The local government of Jiangxi, last year, issued a new plan of building Jingdezhen into a national ceramic culture inheritance and innovation pilot zone.

According to the plan, the ancient city will hereafter focus on the protection, inheritance and innovation of ceramic culture; innovation and development of the ceramic culture industry; development of ceramic culture tourism; fostering ceramic professionals, and ceramic culture exchange and cooperation.

Taking advantage of its ancient ceramic culture, the new plan aims to build Jingdezhen into a national ceramic culture protection, inheritance and innovation base, a world-famous ceramic culture tourism destination, and an international ceramic cultural exchange, cooperation and trading center.

After the implementation of the plan, Camille felt the great changes of the old city, saying "both the infrastructure and the ecological environment are improving and getting better and better."

"When I first came to Jingdezhen, the Luojia Airport here didn't have as many flights as it does today, and there was no high-speed railway station," says Camille, who has witnessed the fast development of the city.

Jingdezhen saw great improvements in local public facilities and services, as well as the vitalization of its tourism industry, and spots such as Taoxichuan and Sanbao Village, which are now known globally.

"People from all over the world exchange ideas in local cafes and hold exhibitions in the art space. Different ideas collide here, bringing artists with inspirations," Camille adds.

The ecological environment of this ancient city has also improved. Through endless efforts of the local government, Jingdezhen has become the city with the best air quality in Jiangxi province in 2020.

Camille likes to take photos of the blue sky. "Sometimes I go to nearby villages to paint, and villages such as those in Yaoli Ancient Town are mostly clean, neat and beautiful. Many city dwellers also head to the countryside on weekends to get close to nature," she says.

Having a dream of holding solo exhibitions in both France and China, Camille is passionate about sharing her artworks with the world. During the COVID-19 epidemic, she stayed in Jingdezhen and set her mind to work.

"For me, the artistic life in Jingdezhen is a great experience," she says.

(NewsUSA)

"The Light of Ishtar"
by Said Elias Dawlabani

An ancient goddess in the light of a contemporary love story . . .

This poignant memoir draws parallels between the ancient goddess Ishtar and the author's wife and soulmate, Elza Maalouf, recognizing inner energies that are universal.

For over a decade, Maalouf spearheaded the resurrection of feminine power in the Middle East. Said became an eminent speaker and author. Brilliant and dynamic, this Lebanese-American couple seemed destined for greatness -- until disaster struck.

 With rare courage he explores the dark side of the psyche when, at age 49, Elza begins descending into speechless dementia. Ishtar's journey to the Underworld mirrors them both. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3y17nfj.

"You Might Feel a Little Prick"
by Reuben Leder

A screaming snowman plummets from the top floor of Cleveland Mercy Hospital and disappears into the snow drifts. By the time his thawed corpse is discovered, a body count of incompetents, frauds, and crooks who call this chamber of horrors home has snowballed.

Could these "disappearances" have anything to do with the bogus spine operation on ex-ballplayer Nick Glass or the wrongful termination of idealistic intern Dr. Julie Toffoli?

 Hysterically funny, troubling and finally moving, this book answers the question we've all been asked by someone in a white coat: Just what is your level of pain? Kirkus calls it "a scathing look at the medical industry ... The author delivers the story with comic panache." Purchase at https://amzn.to/3yCMU0C.

"This Distance We Call Love"
by Carol Dines

These stories explore the complexities of contemporary family life with humor and insight. The book focuses on our most intimate relationships: sisters battle issues of duty and obligation when one sister becomes homeless; a mother and daughter take a trip to Mexico, only to be followed by the daughter's stalker; a family living in Rome must contend with their daughter's rape; parents navigate raising their only child in the age of climate change; a bi-racial daughter whose mother is dying battles her own internet sex addiction.

 The stories delve deeply into the relationships that impact and inform our lives, creating a portrait of American family life today. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3yHX54l.

"Science and Beyond: Toward Greater Sanity through Science, Philosophy, Art, and Spirituality"
by Rolf Sattler

Science has become the dominant force in most parts of the world. Thus, it affects our lives and society in many ways. Yet, misconceptions about science are widespread in governments, the general public and even among many scientists. "Science and Beyond" explores these misconceptions that may have grave and even disastrous consequences for individuals and society as was evident during the COVID-19 pandemic, where they led to much unnecessary suffering, sickness and death.

 The misconceptions also obscure the limitations of science, which prevents us from going beyond them and thus leads to an impoverished life. But reaching beyond the limitations of science, as outlined in this book, can open the doors to a more fulfilled, saner, healthier, happier and more peaceful life and society. Visit www.RolfSattler.com.

NOTE: BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com. 

(NewsUSA) - Stay glued to your TVs this October with Lifetime's all-new fall lineup, featuring gripping, emotional and informative new original movies featuring star-studded casts.

October begins with "The Good Father: The Martin MacNeill Story"(10/2). Based on a true story, the movie centers on the life of the Utah doctor, played by Tom Everett Scott, who seemed to have it all, with a beauty-queen wife, Michele (Charisma Carpenter), and adoring daughter, Alexis.

But this perfect picture becomes tainted when Michele dies from drowning while taking prescription medication following plastic surgery, and Dr. MacNeill brings home a "nanny" who is actually his mistress. Alexis, shocked by her father's behavior, starts to dig into his life, and discovers an individual capable of murder.

In "Dying to Belong" (10/9) journalism major Olivia (Favour Onwuka) meets shy freshman Riley (Jenika Rose), and the pair decide to participate in sorority rush to join Pi Gamma Beta, the sorority of Riley's popular mother, Katherine (Shannen Doherty).

In this suspenseful remake of the classic 1997 movie, Olivia plans an undercover story about sorority hazing, but uncovers deadly secrets involved in joining the Pi Gamma Beta "sisterhood."

Shannen Doherty appears again in "List of a Lifetime," (10/10) part of Lifetime's Broader Focus initiative that champions women in key production roles.

When Brenda Lee (Kelly Hu) is diagnosed with breast cancer, she seeks out the daughter she gave up for adoption at birth. She finds Talia (Sylvia Kwan) living with her adoptive parents, Diana (Shannen Doherty) and Marty (Jamie Kahler). Talia keeps her newfound relationship with her birth mother a secret and bonds with Brenda by helping her create a bucket list of everything she wants to do.

Other fall features include "Switched Before Birth,"(10/23) a heart-wrenching drama involving an IVF mixup that leaves one couple with twin babies, only one of whom is biologically theirs.

Olivia Crawford (Skyler Samuels) and her husband Brian (Bo Yokely) find themselves pitted against former friends Anna Ramirez (Justina Machado) and her husband Gabe (Yancey Arias).

In "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: The Kristine Carlson Story," (10/16), Heather Locklear stars as Kristine, the wife of Dr. Richard Carlson, psychotherapist, motivational speaker, and author of the popular "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" books. The movie chronicles Kristine's journey to self-discovery and self-confidence in the wake of her husband's untimely death and amid the pressure to become the new voice of the brand he created.

Finally, "Torn from Her Arms," premiering on October 30, is based on a true story from the ongoing crisis at the U.S. border, in which a mother struggles to find her six-year-old daughter after being separated on arrival from El Salvador.

The cast includes Fátima Molina as Cindy Madrid and Camila Nuñez as her daughter, Ximena, along with Judy Reyes as immigration lawyer Thelma Garcia and Gloria Reuben as journalist Ginger Thompson, whose publicizing of their story brought national attention to the plight of undocumented immigrant families.

Visit mylifetime.com for more information about Lifetime's fall lineup and other programming.

(NewsUSA)

(NewsUSA) - A growing body of research shows that throughout the next decade women will control significantly more financial assets. Today, they control a third of total U.S. household financial assets (about $10 trillion), but by 2030 women are expected to control most of the $30 trillion in financial assets currently held by baby boomers.

McKinsey & Company reports that the biggest reason for this shift is demographics. Younger women are making more financial and investment decisions than they were 5 years ago. Additionally, older women are set to inherit the assets of joint households (households where a woman is present but hasn't been actively involved in financial decisions).

Meanwhile, American Express estimates there are nearly 13 million women-owned businesses in the United States. They state that "the potential of women entrepreneurs for spurring economic growth has not been fully realized."

As women take charge over a greater share of financial assets, it's important that they seek out financial professionals that best meet their needs.

If you are one of these women, your financial responsibilities probably are or will become significant, and you may have wondered if you need some help. Working with a trustworthy financial advisor -- such as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional -- can help you navigate financial challenges related to life's transitions, family responsibilities and earnings potential.

Here are 4 examples of why it is important for women to work with a financial planner:

1. During the pandemic, many women have been laid off, furloughed or reduced their working hours. Unfortunately, time away from your career can have negative financial implications -- both for short-term cash flow and long-term goals, such as saving for retirement. A CFP® professional can help you stay focused on the future after a career transition or other earnings gap.

2. If you own a business (or plan to start one), a CFP® professional can collaborate with you to create a financial plan that incorporates different stages of the entrepreneurial journey, including the start-up phase, growth, expansion and succession planning.

3. A CFP® professional can help couples merge, reset or adjust their finances. Whether you are getting married or have made another long-term commitment to each other, a CFP® professional can help you evaluate Social Security maximization strategies, tax implications, and options for retirement planning and estate planning. In these cases, it is important that women have a relationship with their advisor, regardless of who serves as the primary financial decisionmaker for their family.

4. A CFP® professional can help manage estate planning. When you lose a loved one, your financial planner can help you handle insurance claims and policies, review Social Security and retirement benefits, and understand where investment accounts are located. They can also help you manage any inheritance you receive.

If you decide to work with a financial planner, you'll want to conduct due diligence before entrusting someone with your most important decisions. Visit LetsMakeAPlan.org to find CFP® professionals, then interview several of them -- asking questions about their service model and experience, among other areas -- to find the right fit.

Once you establish a relationship with your financial planner, keep in touch with them and stay involved in your finances. Together, you and your financial planner can work toward and reach your financial goals.