(NewsUSA) - Maaco, the iconic American body shop, is celebrating 50 years of affordable auto body paint and repair with a Labor Day giveaway -- 50 pairs of gold Ray Ban sunglasses.

The contest will run from Monday, August 15, through midnight on Sunday, August 28, and is open to anyone in the United States. Entrants are invited to share their plans for Labor Day weekend and how they would enjoy sporting their new Ray Bans via the contest website. The 50 lucky winners will receive a pair of gold Ray Ban sunglasses following the closing of the contest.

“We’re hosting this golden giveaway to show our appreciation to our customers, for their decades of support,” says Chris Dawson, president of Maaco. “Over the last 50 years, customers have come to depend on us as the one to call whenever it’s time for a fresh paint job on your car or when life inevitably brings its dents, dings and scratches on your vehicle.”

Maaco was founded in 1972 by Anthony Martino, with a single shop in Wilmington, Delaware. The company now includes more than 400 independently owned and operated franchises across North America where expert technicians have repaired more than 20 million vehicles over the past 50 years.

Maaco has made a name for itself as a standout auto repair franchise because of its best-price guarantee and lifetime warranty on services performed and through servicing car fleets for large and small businesses and government agencies.     

Maaco also offers contactless procedures and an online cost estimator tool to help make car repair quick, easy and safe.     

Maaco’s gold, platinum, and diamond certified centers pass rigorous approval processes each year. These centers include experts with specialized training in repair of specific models, including Audi, Honda, Ford, General Motors, Fiat Chrysler, Volkswagen and Lexus. These certified centers are designed to repair specific models to meet or exceed factory standards.     

“Throughout these 50 years, our dedicated franchise family has remained committed to providing the best -quality repair at an incredible value, and that’s why Maaco has such loyal customers,” continues Dawson. “It’s an honor to be a part of this iconic brand, and I can’t wait to see our communities celebrating alongside us as they sport their golden shades for the Labor Day long weekend.”     

The winners will be chosen at random on Wednesday, August 31. They will be notified through email and must respond within five business days to claim their gold Ray Bans.     

Visit MaacoGoldenGiveaway.com for more information and complete contest details.

(NewsUSA) -  

“Waves of Hope”
by Judith Keim       

Hope and determination can bring results …  

Ellie Weatherby and the four other grandmothers living at Sanderling Cove decide with only two great-grandchildren, it’s time to swing into action. So they invite their grandchildren to spend the summer at the cove, hoping to encourage romance between them.  

Elle’s three granddaughters -- Charlotte Bradford, Olivia Winters, and Brooke Weatherby -- are all at a point where they have the time to do as she asks.  When Shane Ensley is sailing with Charlotte and another “cove kid,” Eric Simon, the boom knocks him into the water unconscious. When Charlotte rescues him, it changes everything for them -- and starts the summer exactly as the grandmothers had hoped.

Purchase at https://books2read.com/u/49njy0.

“The Winning Playbook”
by Rob Welsh and Jonathan R. Scott  

A must-read for any future or current professional athlete, or any person looking to get a better understanding of their finances, “The Winning Playbook: Strategies for Life On And Off the Field” offers invaluable information you won’t find anywhere else.  

We hear so many stories of athletes who have been taken advantage of or who simply didn't have a purpose after their careers came to an end. This doesn't have to happen. Learn how money and taxes work. Learn how to keep more of your hard-earned money and put it to work for you. Learn what to look for in a financial and business team. Turn your career into your money-making machine, and become the CEO of your enterprise and legacy.

Purchase at https://amzn.to/3RiuX16.

“Bit Flip”
by Mike Trigg  

Combining the corporate intrigue of Joseph Finder, the satirical cultural critique of Dave Eggers, and the domestic drama of Laura Dave, “Bit Flip” is a fast-paced contemporary thriller that delivers an authentic insider’s view of the corrupting influences of greed, entitlement, and vanity in technology start-ups.  

Tech executive Sam Hughes came to Silicon Valley to “make the world a better place.” But when an onstage meltdown sends him into a professional tailspin, he suddenly sees the culture of the Bay Area’s tech bubble in a new light.

Just as Sam’s wondering if his career and marriage might be over at fortysomething, an inadvertent discovery pulls him back into his former company, where he unravels insidious schemes that threaten to destroy the company and his own moral compass.

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

“There Will Be Lobster”
by Sara Arnell    

You know her. You’ve seen her. You may even see yourself in her. If you’re arriving to the midlife crisis party -- the one that’s serving low self-esteem, desperation, unreliable behavior, forgetfulness, carelessness and the loneliness of loss -- the stories and anecdotes in this memoir will assure you that you are not alone.  

For Sara Arnell, it took a rogue lobster, a dying rock star, an eighteen-pound tumor, a meditation guru, a famous medium and a former monk to put her on a path toward light, hope, and healing.  

“Sara Arnell is the only writer I know who can make self-depreciation and wisdom look like the same thing. This is a darkly funny memoir with a big heart,” says David Hollander, author of “Anthropica” and “L.I.E.”

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

NOTE: BookTrib’s Bites is presented by Booktrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Summer is here, and the job market for teens is hot. More travel and activities this summer are driving the need for teen workers to fill jobs as lifeguards, house sitters, dog walkers, restaurant workers and retail employees.     

Summer jobs provide a great opportunity to teach kids about managing money.     

“A summer job may be the first opportunity for kids to earn enough money to need to make more critical financial decisions,” says Don Grant, a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERTM professional. Teens may be responsible for cars, and college students may be managing their own apartments. Even younger children who are earning money from mowing lawns or other endeavors can learn about budgeting and saving.     

Some key concepts that kids can learn from summer jobs include the following:     

Budgeting basics: Budgeting is finding a balance between what you earn and what you can spend, a concept that kids of all ages can understand.     

Saving savvy: Kids and teens may be eager to spend their summer paychecks, but it’s important for parents to stress the value of putting aside a certain amount from each paycheck to get them into the savings habit early. Explain the value of short-term savings for more immediate needs, such as a trip to the beach, and long-term savings for goals down the road, including college savings accounts or even retirement accounts. “A small amount saved now could grow to a small fortune over time,” says Grant. This is a good reminder for kids.     

Teachable taxes: Teens who are making enough money at jobs such as lifeguarding or retail may be surprised when they see taxes removed from their paychecks. Grant recommends using this opportunity to teach kids about filing tax returns and to explain how they might even get a refund, depending on credits and deductions.     

Smart spending: Encourage kids with summer jobs to prioritize needs and wants. Getting a handle on these concepts can provide the tools kids need for financial success at any stage of life.     

Automated options: Make a plan with your teen to divert part of each paycheck into a Roth IRA; many banks offer options for auto-deposits. Kids can learn how to live within their means and enjoy the satisfaction of watching their investments grow through compounding.     

Meeting with a financial professional can help teens and parents address any questions or concerns about saving and spending -- and can help get kids off to a good start to build habits for a sound financial future.     

Visit LetsMakeAPlan.org for more financial planning tips and to find a CFP® professional near you.

(NewsUSA) - Celebrated novelist Mike Bond’s ambitious “America” series relives the last 70 years and our nation’s most profound upheavals since the Civil War. Now, through the wild, joyous, heartbroken and visionary lives of four young people, the story continues in book three, entitled “REVOLUTION.”

The book follows the first two volumes in the series -- “America” and “Freedom.”  

The 1968 Tet uprising plunges America deeper into the abyss of Vietnam. Martin Luther King is shot, and riots rage in 130 burning American cities. Students protesting the war take over American universities and street battles in Paris nearly topple the French government. Senator Eugene McCarthy enters the Democratic presidential race against Lyndon Johnson, followed by Bobby Kennedy, who goes on to win the California Democratic primary.  

Mick joins the Paris student street battles, then returns to the US to work in Kennedy’s presidential campaign. Daisy leaves Stanford to work, also in Bobby’s campaign. Troy faces increasing dangers as the Vietnam War widens into Cambodia and Laos. American astronauts land on the moon and safely return to earth. Tara and her band shine at Woodstock. And the My Lai massacre is revealed, further darkening the tragedy in Vietnam, as America teeters on the edge of revolution.  

Midwest Book Review calls “REVOLUTION” “an extraordinary and deftly crafted novel that combines interesting characters within the context of a historically detailed background … an inherently entertaining … fascinating read.”  

The Miami Times calls “REVOLUTION” “a testament to the effect the politics and moral revolution have had on America.”  

Kirkus calls it “an evocative novel of the 1960s that hits just the right tone.”  

Mike Bond has been called “master of the existential thriller" by BBC, "one of America’s best thriller writers” by Culture Buzz, and “one of the 21st century’s most exciting authors” by the Washington Times. He is a best-selling novelist, war and human rights journalist and environmental activist. He has covered guerrilla wars, death squads and military dictatorships in Latin America and Africa, Islamic terrorism in the Middle East and ivory poaching and other environmental battles in East Africa and Asia.  

His critically acclaimed novels take the reader into intense situations in the world's most perilous places, into wars, revolutions, dangerous love affairs and political and corporate conspiracies, making “readers sweat with [their] relentless pace.” (Kirkus) and drawing them “into a land and a time I had not known, but left me with my senses reeling.” (NetGalley Reviews)  

His books have been named among the best of the year by reviewers and readers alike. He speaks multiple languages, has climbed and trekked over 50,000 miles on every continent from the Antarctic to Siberia and is at home in some of the most primitive and dangerous places on the planet.  

Learn more about Mike Bond at mikebondbooks.com and purchase “REVOLUTION” at https://amzn.to/3aLuXqe.

BookBites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Today’s Millennial and Gen Z apartment hunters are tech-savvy, smart and safety-conscious. That means they are seeking the best in high-tech features that make their lives easier, safer and more fun, and they are willing to pay more for it. Parks Associates’ research on multifamily property owners shows that a third of residents are willing to pay an additional 15% per month in rent for smart amenities.

Here are five of the top tech amenities renters want:

Keyless Entry

Smart locks are among the most-desired apartment amenities, and with good reason. Smart locks allow for keyless entry, and renters never have to fear being locked out because they have lost or forgotten a key. Many renters also prefer smart locks on shared amenity spaces for added security.

Renters want to know who is at the door, and they can benefit from the more secure, convenient and seamless access experience provided by a smart video intercom access system. Using an app like the myQ® Community app, residents can have access to one-way video calling, two-way video voice communication and a “press to unlock” feature that allows residents to easily unlock entrances with their smartphones.

Access from Afar

More people are returning to work, and many renters seek a high-tech, safe, option to allow approved visitors remote access to their space when they are away. Users of the myQ® community app can provide access for guests or other trusted visitors, such as cleaners, repair people and dog walkers.

Package Protection Prowess

As more people than ever shop online, renters want 24/7 access to package pick-up, and a smartphone access management app allows residents to see who’s at the entrance. With the ability to send a time-limited, virtual entry pass, residents can manage deliveries from work or anywhere. An automated notification system alerts residents to a package, and a secure package room ensures that couriers can access the property and complete deliveries without risk of theft by “porch pirates.”

Hands-Free Homecoming

Renters today want less contact with frequently touched surfaces. Smart access control systems that work with voice control allow residents to open doors hands-free. Users of the myQ® Community app can use Siri Voice Control, a feature that is compatible with all LiftMaster Smart Video Intercoms. Residents can ask Siri to unlock doors, from elevators to parking garages, reducing contact with high-touch areas with touch- less entry.

Visit myq.com for more information about the myQ® Community app and other top high-tech amenities that renters want.

(NewsUSA) -  

Back to school season is a flurry of activity for college students and their families. From gathering and packing school supplies and dorm essentials to seeing friends and family one last time before heading to campus, it can be a hectic time. For many students, the last thing on their radar is learning what might be a new, and as you’ll see, a critical responsibility – cleaning.
As any college student and parent of a college student knows, germs can spread quickly across campus. However, proper cleaning and hygiene plays a critical role in protecting and maintaining the health and wellness. While data from a recent survey by the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) found nearly all college students recognize having a clean room helps them feel their best, both mentally and physically, nearly 3 in 4 were less than completely prepared to clean on their own once they got to school.

Don’t wait for “Parent’s Weekend” for some instruction on the cleaning front. Here is some important guidance from ACI’s Class of Clean program, which provides concise, step-by-step information and guidance to help college students stay clean, remove that WTF stain and maybe even land a date.

Packing 101: Grab Those Cleaning Essentials

You’ve got your bedding, new notebooks, and chargers, but what about those cleaning supplies? For some students, heading off to college marks the first time they are responsible for chores like cleaning and laundry. For 1 in 5 students, a lack of cleaning supplies and cleaning knowledge prevents them from keeping tidy. Parents – as your child gears up to leave the nest, make sure they have what they need to give their space a clean start, like an all-purpose cleaner and vacuum. Check out the “Move-In checklist” for more tips on cleaning once you’ve arrived on campus.

Avoid an Avalanche of Chores by Cleaning Regularly

Trying to tackle all cleaning tasks at one time, like before a big date, can be time-consuming, exhausting, and stressful. According to ACI’s survey, when it comes to student dating, lack of cleaning and hygiene is like school on Saturday...NO CLASS! In fact, nearly half of college students would be very or somewhat likely to walk out if they saw their date’s room was a mess. Divide your cleaning chores into daily and weekly tasks to make cleaning manageable. Daily tasks could include cleaning up visible messes, vacuuming the floor of your bedroom, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, like doorknobs and light switches.

Don’t Let Cleaning Be a Source of Tension with Roommates

Everyone wants to get along with their roommate, but a messy room can lead to problems. In fact, 71% of respondents with roommates say they argue over cleaning. When you arrive on campus, establish cleaning responsibilities and decide which chores need to be completed on a daily or weekly basis. Because germs can spread quickly in shared living spaces, if you or your roommate feel ill, increase your cleaning practices to keep germs from spreading. Read ACI’s “Good Roommate Checklist” and “Sick Roommate Guide” to help avoid conflict and keep each other healthy throughout the school year.

Tell Your Stains Who’s Boss

Don’t show up to a party with a stain on your shirt because you didn’t know how to wash it properly. If this will be your first time tackling the laundry since moving away from home, have no fear! Pay close attention to the fabric care instructions on your clothing labels and following a simple wash schedule to ensure you know when to wash different types of clothes.

This fall, make sure you are prepared with the cleaning products and resources you need to have a successful and healthy school year. For more information and on- campus cleaning tips, visit https://www.cleaninginstitute.org/classofclean

(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.