(Lindsey Johnson, Consumer Bankers Association President and CEO) - The end of the year is the perfect time to review your full financial picture and consider any changes. With over 4,000 banks in the U.S. competing for your business, you have more options than ever to take control of your finances—whether it’s budgeting, improving your credit, or saving in challenging times.

Managing life's big expenses 

If you're struggling with debt as the year ends, you're not alone—life is expensive! Fortunately, there are many different resources available to you to help you get back on track.

For credit card debt, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) recommends that you first contact your credit card company directly. They can often provide a similar, less expensive solution than debt settlement companies, offer tips for budgeting, and provide hardship programs that can include lower monthly payments. Another good option is to work with a nonprofit credit counselor, who can help negotiate with your creditors on your behalf and help you manage multiple debts.

It’s also important to know the risks associated with for-profit debt settlement companies that use aggressive advertising and sales tactics and may leave you deeper in debt than you were when you started. Learn more at https://www.aboutdebtrelief.com/.

Overdraft services help customers in a pinch

Another tool banks offer is overdraft services, which cover transactions that exceed account balances. For many consumers—especially the one in five Americans without access to credit—overdraft is a lifeline for essential expenses like rent and utilities when faced with an unexpected expense shock.

Many banks have made big changes to improve overdraft policies, introducing innovative tools designed to reduce fees and give you more visibility into your finances, including:

• Fee elimination: Decreased or eliminated overdraft fees entirely in some cases for consumer accounts.
• Grace periods to give you time to bring your account balance back to positive before a fee is applied.
• Overdraft cushions or “buffers” that let you avoid fees for smaller transactions.
• Daily limits on the number of overdraft fees charged to prevent unexpected financial strain.

As you think about your New Year’s resolutions and evaluate your financial situation, the innovations offered by America's banks can be useful tools to reduce stress and help you stay on top of your finances.

(NewsUSA) - Thermally modified Real American Hardwood^® is a durable, sustainable product gaining traction in U.S. home design. Developed in Finland in the 1990s, the process involves heating wood to over 400°F in a low-oxygen chamber, permanently altering its cellular structure to boost resistance to moisture, decay, and insects—without chemicals. It’s also more dimensionally stable, making it less likely to warp or twist. “Thermally modified hardwood is an eco-friendly alternative to pressure-treated wood,” notes Ian Faight of the American Hardwood Information Center. “For homeowners, this versatile, low-maintenance material is an excellent choice for exterior applications like decking, siding, and outdoor furniture, as well as for interior uses like flooring and cabinetry.” Here are six examples of its remarkable adaptability and great looks.

Pennsylvania poplar siding from Americana^™ Thermally Modified Hardwoods envelops this contemporary residence in Biltmore Forest, North Carolina, by Vellum Architecture and Design. The poplar’s rich tones and clean lines enhance the home’s modern aesthetic, while its durability and stability—achieved through heat treatment—ensure lasting performance against moisture, decay, and warping. Photo courtesy of 161 Photography

VikingWood^™ thermally modified sweet gum flooring enhances the covered porch of this Lake Lanier, Georgia, family home, offering a natural, chemical-free alternative to treated wood. The thermal process adds structural stability and fungal resistance while producing a deep, chocolate hue that helps create a warm, inviting setting for the retreat designed by Jillian Mitchell of Details Design. Photo courtesy of VikingWood, AHC Hardwood Group

An architecturally complicated space, the renovated entertainment area of a Las Vegas, Nevada, residence is given a sense of unity by cladding the ceiling, soffits, and columns with thermally modified Pennsylvania poplar from Americana. The heat-treated hardwood not only enhances the space’s aesthetics with its burnished, natural tones, but also provides improved resistance to warping, decay, and insects—ideal for the desert climate. Photo courtesy of Henri Sagalow Photography

About 4,000 square feet of thermally modified Appalachian ash decking, also from Americana, creates a seamless flow around the pool of a Sonoma County, California, residence. Part of a multilevel wrap-around terrace designed and built by Deck Supply Warehouse, the deck’s heat-treated timber means the space will retain its glamorous looks and structural integrity for many years to come. Photo courtesy of Americana Thermally Modified Hardwoods

Thermally modified hardwood’s resistance to moisture, decay, and warping make it ideal for outdoor furniture, as does another attribute: During the heating process, natural sugars in the wood caramelize, giving the timber a warmer, more pronounced hue—a phenomenon showcased in these classic Adirondack chairs made from VikingWood thermally modified ash, which has acquired a rich, coffee-like hue that accentuates its characterful grain. Photo courtesy of VikingWood, AHC Hardwood Group

By using thermally modified ash from Arbor Wood Co. to clad both the interior ceiling and the exterior roof overhang of this lake house in Riverside, Texas, Collaborative Designworks gives a master class in creating continuous indoor-outdoor living. The treated hardwood not only frames the water views perfectly, it also makes those deep soffits as low-maintenance as they are spectacular. Photo courtesy of Joe Aker/Aker Imaging

Visit www.hardwoodinfo.com for more about using American hardwoods in your home.

(NewsUSA) - The holidays are upon us, and many parents with babies and young children may approach holiday travel with trepidation. Whether you and your young family are traveling by car, bus, train, or plane, or a combination, keep these tips from KinderCare experts in mind to help your kids (and you) be happy travelers.

-Plan for car seat success. Any baby or toddler gets antsy in a car seat eventually, whether in a car, on a train or bus, or on a plane. Help keep the little passengers happy by dressing them in light layers to account for excess heat or air conditioning. Bring toys, games, and books, and if in a car, have another adult or older child ride in the back seat if possible. For babies and toddlers, who should be in rear-facing seats, a safe plastic mirror helps you and your little one keep an eye on each other while staying safe.

-Space out surprises. No matter what mode of travel, having a “travel fun kit” that includes small toys, paper and crayons, activity books, and devices with headphones gives you a range of activities to rotate through airport waits, holiday traffic backups, or delayed trains/buses.

-Keep eating easy. Hungry children are cranky children. Planes and trains have limited snack options for children, and kids get hungry in the car when you aren’t prepared to make a food stop. Stash non-perishable healthy treats such as trail mix, fruit leather, low-sugar granola bars, jerky, or edamame. Use spill-proof cups, reusable snack bags, and freezable bags. Travel snacks to avoid include squishy yogurt tubes or other squeeze pouches that might rupture in luggage or squirt across a hungry kid while they are strapped into an airplane seat. Even chocolate is at risk, a hot car and a sunny window can create a melty mess.

-Stay consistent when you can. Babies and young children thrive on routines. If possible, stay as close as you can to their regular schedules of meals, playtime, and naps. Traveling should be fun, but realistically it is stressful for parents. Your kids will pick up on that stress, so practice self-care as well.

For more tips on traveling with babies and young children, visit KinderCare.com.

(NewsUSA) - The advancements made in eyewear over the years have been shaped by innovative materials designed to be stylish, durable, and flexible. Today’s optical frames are far more than just fashion statements—they are crafted to meet the demands of active lifestyles. Flexible materials have transformed the eyewear industry, offering resilience and comfort that were unimaginable decades ago. 

The journey began with the discovery of memory metal, a titanium-based alloy that was discovered by scientists in the 1960s for military applications. The material’s ability to return to its original shape after being bent laid the foundation for the flexible eyewear we see today. Memory metal, often associated with brands like Flexon Eyewear, is known for being lightweight, lighter than modern conventional metals, and resistant to fatigue and corrosion. This makes it ideal for consumers who need eyewear that can withstand various activities in everyday life. Whether it is a child pulling glasses off their father’s face, or an accidental drop during a DIY project, memory metal frames offer peace of mind by bouncing back into shape and withstanding life’s everyday activities.  

Flexon Eyewear customer feedback highlights the growing demand for eyewear that not only looks good but can keep up with life’s unpredictability. One parent described how their child tugged at their glasses during a family outing, bending them beyond what seemed repairable—yet the frames returned to their original form. Another individual working on a DIY project praised their eyewear for enduring knocks and accidental bends while remaining lightweight and comfortable throughout the day. 

As life gets busy, flexible frames are essential for those needing eyewear to keep up with them. Flexon’s use of flexible materials like memory metal contributes to a longer product lifespan, reducing the need for frequent replacements. Whether you are looking for glasses to match an active lifestyle or simply want eyewear that can handle the unexpected, these materials provide a blend of comfort, durability, and functional design.  

To learn more about Flexon Eyewear, visit flexon.com.  

(NewsUSA) - Cold weather is coming, and homeowners need to prepare now for potential power outages.

According to NOAA's 2024-2025 Winter Outlook, a slow-developing La Nina is expected to impact winter weather conditions across most of the United States. Much of the Great Lakes and Pacific Northwest is expected to receive above-average precipitation, while the Pacific Northwest through the Great Plains are expected to receive below-average temperatures this winter. Both factors can potentially contribute to power outage events, as high precipitation can damage an aging power infrastructure, and cold weather can create greater demand on the electrical grid.

"Americans experienced an all-time high of 1.2 billion hours without power in the first nine months of the year, and we only expect that to continue to rise through the winter," said Kyle Raabe, president of Consumer Power for Generac. "As low temperatures and harsh conditions strain the country's electrical grids, winter power outage preparation has become more important than ever."

Power outages can be especially dangerous during winter weather and can have far-reaching consequences that affect nearly every aspect of modern living. Without electricity, homes are left without heating, refrigeration, and lighting. Power loss can lead to dangerous living conditions in colder climates, particularly for vulnerable populations such as the elderly or those with young children and even pets. For this reason, it's critical for homeowners to have an emergency plan. 

Below are six essential steps to take when preparing for winter power outages: 

• Identify your nearest warming centers, when they will open and, if applicable, which ones allow pets.
• If you use a fireplace or wood stove for heating, be sure to have your chimney or flue inspected annually ahead of cold weather.
• Build an emergency kit with essential components like food and water, first aid supplies, and any specialty needs for pets and children. 
• Have relevant family and trusted contact information handy in a wallet or purse. Create a communication plan in case of an outage.
• Install carbon monoxide alarms on each level of your home and outside separate sleeping areas. Test alarms monthly and replace batteries as needed.
• Consider investing in a source of backup power, like a portable or home standby generator, to power critical loads during an outage.

In order to make outage preparation easy, Generac has created a Cold Weather Preparedness Guide, which contains an abundance of facts, tips, and checklists to help homeowners understand the potential impacts of winter weather on the power grid and prepare for blackouts. To access the guide and learn more about how to prepare for cold weather power outages, visit https://www.generac.com/prepare/winter-storm-guide.

(NewsUSA) - As the holiday season arrives, Marine Toys for Tots stands ready to assist millions of children in need across the Nation—providing hope and joy through toys, books, and other gifts.

Last year, the Marine Toys for Tots Program achieved new records with its flagship campaign, delivering over 25 million toys, books, and games to more than 10 million disadvantaged children who otherwise would have gone without and felt forgotten.

This year’s Holiday Campaign kicked off on October 1st and continues through December 25th. During this time, U.S. Marines, local Coordinators, and dedicated volunteers will conduct more than 870 local toy collection and distribution campaigns in all 50 states, Washington, D.C., Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Toys for Tots’ local chapters are actively engaging with local businesses, media, and individuals within their communities to collect new, unwrapped toys, books, and games. The donated items will be distributed to disadvantaged children in their local areas, allowing them to experience a happy and joyful holiday season.

Inflation and the skyrocketing cost of living continue to force many families to choose rent, food, and gas over toys and gifts for their children. Toys for Tots believes no child should be forgotten during the most magical time of year. Their mission is to put a smile on every child’s face and restore hope to our Nation’s most precious resource – our children. 

“Saving Christmas is no small task,” said LtGen James B. Laster, USMC (Retired), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, in a statement announcing this year’s campaign.

“Now, in our 77th season, we are asking our supporters to help us achieve another record-breaking year and deliver the magic of the holidays to every family seeking our assistance,” he said.

Everyone who supports the Toys for Tots mission is a ‘Secret Santa,’ whether by placing toys, books, or games in the iconic white collection boxes in their communities or through monetary contributions.

Help Marine Toys for Tots deliver gifts of hope and joy to children in need this holiday season by visiting https://secure.toysfortots.org/a/august-paid-search-main-donation-page to donate today!

(NewsUSA) - The United States is poised for global leadership in the area of AI and robotics as discussed at the AI+ Robotics Summit hosted by the Special Competitive Studies Project (SCSP), a nonprofit and nonpartisan initiative with a goal of making recommendations to strengthen America's long-term competitiveness in AI. The sessions highlighted significant technological advancements and outlined ways to achieve and maintain global leadership, said SCSP in a recent newsletter.

Key takeaways regarding AI and robotics identified at the summit include:

1. Advances in AI have enabled robotics to move from physics-based problems to natural language solutions. The next generation of robots will be powered in part by LLMs, simulation computers, and on-device robotic foundation models.
2. Using AI in simulation environments to model robot interactions at machine scale. Gathering simulation and real-world data would allow robots to expand beyond factories and warehouses.
3. Future factories will be highly automated due to advanced manufacturing. Factories are the testing ground for innovation in AI-enabled robotics. These advances will also support a transformation across industries ranging from agriculture to medicine to construction.
4. Brainstorming “moonshot” ideas. Players from all parts of the U.S. robotics ecosystem could get behind big ideas that would fuel the U.S. robotics ecosystem to technological advantage, such as investing in robotics supply chains and leveraging AI-enabled robots to search for life in outer space.
5. Taking advantage of voluntary public-private partnerships. Today’s AI and robotics innovations are driven by the private sector, but partnerships can help bridge technology gaps, strengthen supply chains, and address workforce challenges.
6. Promoting private investment in hardware. The U.S. government can reduce the risk for private investment in robotics production at scale with incentives such as tax credits.
7. Embracing new jobs. Placing AI at the center of learning will educate the next generation workforce with new skills to adapt to an evolving technology landscape.
8. Accelerating learning, mapping, and cooperating on robotics with allies. The U.S. should work with partner nations to foster structural cooperation on shared programs.
9. Catching up to China’s industrial robotics. China has aggressively adopted new technologies for robotics in manufacturing. These investments and initiatives pose a competitive challenge to the U.S.
10. Bringing robotics to the forefront of U.S. technology strategies. China has outcompeted the U.S. in robotics and the lack of a national strategy illustrates how it is a secondary consideration.

Visit scsp.ai to learn more, and visit the SCSP YouTube channel to watch sessions from the AI+ Robotics Summit.

(NewsUSA) -  

The holidays are here, and you can be the host with the most by offering guests a truly distinctive and delicious menu to celebrate in style.

A holiday brunch is a great way to relax and reconnect with friends and family. A menu that adapts easily to large or small groups leaves you more time to spend with your guests.

Don’t be afraid to get creative with food and drinks based on your theme when planning your holiday party and going snowman. Try snowman pancakes: place two pancakes on a plate with one on top of the other, take a piece of bacon and place it where the pancakes meet for a scarf; chocolate chips, nuts, mini M&Ms, or raisins can serve as eyes, nose, or buttons. Please keep it simple, or make it sophisticated. 

Don’t want to mess up the kitchen? Slide some mini powdered donuts onto skewers and add chocolate candy hats (mini Reese’s cups?) and licorice scarves for a simple snowman kabob that will delight all ages.

(NewsUSA) - Covet the Chaos by Caleb Shawn Sully

Based on a true story. Emerging from his service in Iraq, a soldier seeks redemption and solace by joining the Peace Corps and volunteering in Ukraine, only to grapple with the weight of his experiences and the shifting landscape of his moral compass. He finds he must set aside idealistic notions of escape and atonement and confront the ghosts of his past and the complex reality of the present. The saga delves into his journey of assimilation and self-discovery.

His attempts to forge connections—particularly with the enigmatic Katya and the volatile Sgt. Ramsey—serve to unearth deeper layers of pain and resilience. As a consequence of his journey throughout the battlefields of Iraq and the post-Soviet world of a quaint Ukrainian village, he comes to terms with the nature of suffering and the pursuit of meaning in a world marked by chaos and uncertainty. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3XlicYS.

A Wink at Coronavirus by Kiran Katib

"Hope in the times of Pandemic" is Kiran Katib's heartfelt response to a world turned upside down by COVID-19. This children's book is her endeavor to demystify the challenges of the pandemic for young minds, offering clarity and comfort through engaging narratives. Her stories are crafted with a delicate balance of education and hope, guiding children to a place of understanding and resilience. With each page, she encourages her readers to look beyond the present and toward the horizon filled with promise and endless possibilities.

The author’s narrative is one of heartfelt transformation, from the serenity of village life to the vibrant pulse of urban education. Rooted in the values of a small town, she found solace and inspiration in the art of storytelling. As a mother of a bright 12-year-old boy, hard transition through life's stages has been mirrored in her son's growth. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3T7Ntfb.

Authenticity and Grace by David Smith PhD

This concise guide demonstrates how to uncover our “authentic life.” Beyond traditional psychology and religion lies the ever-extraordinary power of Grace. Understanding how Grace unfolds as our individual life reveals our true purpose. Dr. Smith teaches us how to identify and use what he calls “Gracepoints” to remove the barriers such as anxiety, depression, fear, and despair that keep us from seeing how the natural power of Grace unfolds in our lives.

The best news of all: Grace is free. Everyone has access to their authentic lives — the only requirement is to get out of the way, bypassing the ego and conditioned thinking covering up our authentic selves. This powerful guide shows us clearly what Grace is, how it can heal, and how we restore the awareness, energy, and the lost sense of wonder which makes us truly individual and human. Purchase at https://bit.ly/4d6bgn8.

Triumph to Tragedy, Book Four by Daniel J.D. Bayard

This book marks the continuing chronicle of the first (and only) successful slave revolution in the world, ultimately spawning the Republic of Haiti. The story is hardly a fairy tale, as the factual events are all too true. It recounts the circumstances and individuals purposely ignored by world history texts for far too long. The books are brimming with romance, intrigue, war, and political betrayal, all seductive page-turners that entertain and educate readers, countrymen, and history buffs alike.

After 13 years of constant turmoil, the Bayard family has deftly navigated their lives through the ever-shifting political landscape. Death and destruction loomed at every turn for Jean and Marie, determined to carve out their success despite all odds. Book Four opens after their victory over Napoleon Bonaparte’s French army. They soon realize establishing stability and peace may be more challenging than fighting for their freedom.

Purchase at https://www.triumphtotragedy.com/triumphtotragedybookstore.

(NewsUSA) - The popularity of deep-fried turkey continues to rise and it’s no wonder, a 12-pound turkey takes less than 45 minutes to cook! The rule of thumb is 3.5 minutes per pound. Home cooks no longer have to be intimidated by the idea of deep frying. Chef Kyle Andreasen from the Wesson cooking oil test kitchen, shares his secrets to deep fried turkey perfection.  

“The challenge with big meals is making sure all the dishes are ready at the same time,” says Andreasen. “Deep frying frees up space in your oven, has a much faster cook time, and the cooked turkey stays hot for at up to an hour once it’s done. So, you’ve got time to get everything prepped to serve at once.”

To get delectable results, Chef Kyle says the trick is to start a week in advance. Fully thaw out the frozen turkey in the fridge, season it and give it a couple of days to dry out. Placing a turkey in hot oil that is not fully defrosted or dried off is dangerous, so don’t do it!

What size turkey to deep fry? The ideal turkey for frying is 10 to 12 pounds. This size fits the fryer and ensures juicy, well-cooked meat. When buying the turkey, stock up on 4 gallons of Wesson canola oil to fill your fryer on the big day. Wesson has a pure, neutral flavor which ensures you taste the delicious turkey – not the oil. You’ll get a wonderful crisp skin and succulent tender meat.

How to prepare a turkey: One week out, place the frozen, packaged turkey on a tray and thaw it in the refrigerator. Two days before Thanksgiving, remove and discard the packaging, neck and giblets. Place the turkey into the empty frying pot, adding water to just cover the turkey. Remove the turkey and mark the water line with a piece of tape – this will be your oil fill line. Pat the turkey dry and season it generously with salt inside and out. Refrigerate uncovered until the big day. This allows the seasoning to sink-in so it stays on the bird when frying.

The big day: Start about two hours before you plan to serve. Fill your turkey fryer with Wesson canola oil to one inch below the fill line you marked and discard the tape. The oil expands when heated and will raise the volume to the fill line. Heat the oil in the turkey fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit (takes about 30 minutes). Have oven mitts, kitchen towels, a thermometer, and a wire rack on hand.

How to fry a turkey:  Place turkey on the hook or basket that came with the fryer, with legs facing up. Dry the turkey thoroughly inside and out with paper towels before frying. Once the oil is hot, turn the gas off, put on the oven mitts, and slowly lower the turkey into the pot. Then turn the heat back on, but do not cover. Set the timer and make sure someone monitors the frying, adjusting the temperature as needed to maintain 350˚ F. A 12-pound turkey will take less than 45 minutes.

When the timer goes off, turn off the heat, lift the turkey from the fryer, and place it on a rack over a pan. Check the internal temperature of the middle of the breast and the middle of the thighs to make sure it’s the USDA recommended temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit for turkey. Let the cooked turkey rest uncovered for at least 60 minutes before carving. For this recipe and more, visit purewesson.com.

Be safe! Only deep fry outside. Read your fryer’s instructions, follow all safety recommendations, and have a fire extinguisher rated for oil fires on hand.