(NewsUSA) - A new poll paints a troubling picture of how anxious Americans are about their finances.

Nearly half of respondents said they didn’t feel “financially stable,” according to the survey from financial services firm Edward Jones and Morning Consult, and 29 percent admitted to having less than $500 in their emergency savings fund.

That’s right, less than $500.

Anyone who’s been to the supermarket lately – the price of a dozen eggs in January was up 70% from the same time last year – can guess one of the main reasons for that low savings rate.

“People have been facing turbulent times,” said Meagan Dow, senior strategist at Edward Jones.  “Understandably, inflation is forcing consumers to spend more on necessities, like housing and groceries, while market conditions are startling investors, so savings are falling low on the priority list.”

How to take control when so much seems out of our control?  If, like most respondents, you measure “financial wellness” as being free of debt and worries over monthly bills, and having enough money to care for your family, read on for ways to move forward:

• Build three to six months’ worth of living expenses in savings to cover emergencies.  Keep in mind that even a few hundred dollars can help improve your financial stability, so start small and celebrate your progress. The specific amount to ultimately target depends on variables like whether your car is on its last leg, or your house is in an area prone to natural disasters.  “There’s also your risk of temporary loss of income to consider, especially if you're a single earner or have job insecurity,” said Dow. "The higher your risks, the more you'll want to save."
   
• Save enough for your unique retirement needs. This year the average senior can count on only $21,924 from Social Security, with the maximum benefit for those retiring in 2023 and claiming at age 70 being $54,660. Most people won't want to solely rely on Social Security for their retirement income. 
  
  Which means, if at all possible, you'll want to be saving money now. At a minimum, you should contribute enough to take full advantage of any employer match for a 401(k) or other employer plan. A match is essentially free money, and generally a 50% or 100% return on your  contributions. Then look to increase your savings over time, ideally at least annually or whenever you get a raise. "Many plans offer a feature to  automatically increase your contributions, making it easier than ever to boost your savings," said Dow.
  
  And if you're working but don't have access to an employer plan or have maxed out your contributions? You may be able to save in an IRA. For  2023, you can contribute up to $6,500 if you have taxable compensation, or $7,500 you’re age 50 or older. Although a Roth IRA has income limitations that may prevent you from contributing the full amount, a backdoor Roth strategy allows you to contribute to a Roth IRA even if you exceed those income limitations. A financial advisor can help determine if this strategy makes sense for you.
   
• Pay down debt.  Start with high-interest, non-deductible debt. The most common form of this is credit card debt, but any high-interest debt is likely to cost you more in interest than you can expect to earn on your investments. Take a look at the "Minimum Payment Warning" box on your statement to see how paying extra can save you in interest payments, and significantly shorten how long it will take you to pay off your balance.
  
  Then you can focus on paying down other debt, starting with the highest after-tax interest rate. "Target a debt-to-income ratio (DTI) of 35% or  lower if you have a mortgage, and 20% or lower if you don't," said Dow. To calculate your DTI, divide your monthly debt payments by your gross monthly income.

Interestingly, the survey also found that those who said they used a financial advisor, instead of trying a do-it-yourself approach, were twice as likely to feel confident about their present and future financial situations. A trusted local advisor at Edward Jones can help you create a roadmap to work toward your own financial wellness.      

(NewsUSA) -  

Have you considered using solid hardwood cabinetry and millwork in your bathroom, but hesitated given the constant humidity? In fact, as long as the room is properly ventilated, and the wood surfaces treated with a moisture-resistant finish—like tung oil, polyurethane, or varnish—such favorites as oak, walnut, cherry, and maple will stand up well to a steamy environment. “Real American Hardwood® products can be used in the bathroom to add warmth, texture, and character to a space that may feel cold and clinical,” says Linda Jovanovich of the American Hardwood Information Center. “And it adapts to any style, from the cozily traditional to the coolly contemporary.” Here are six bathrooms that do just that.

Everything’s bright and breezy in this Minneapolis bathroom by Swan Architecture (@swanarchitecture) and Lucy Interior Design (@lucyinteriordesign): nickel-gap shiplap on the end wall and bath surround; shiny chrome sconces and sink fittings; canvas duck Roman shades. But the beachy, upbeat vibe is cleverly balanced by the custom walnut vanity, a solidly handsome piece that strikes a more substantial note without being overly serious. Photograph by Spacecrafting

Architects Hsu McCullough (@hsumccullough) show mastery of subtle color and texture in this Los Angeles bathroom. Slate-gray cement tiles on the floor and pale-smoke marble tiles on the walls provide a quietly glamorous setting for the main event: a custom vanity of lightly bleached white oak with a clear matte sealer—Rubio Monocoat, derived from natural plant oils—that allows the full beauty of the wood to shine through. Photograph by Dan Arnold Photo

Cerusing—also known as “liming”—is the application of white-pigmented, non-toxic wax sealers to porous wood to bring out the natural grain without changing its color. Architects Michael McKinley and Associates (@mckinleyarchitects) make expert use of the finish for this custom cerused-oak vanity in a Connecticut bathroom. White subway wall tiles, chrome fittings and mirror frames, and oak flooring set the honey-tone cabinetry off to perfection. Photograph by Jason McGrail

Two firms, Milieu (@milieu_design_spokane) and Designology (@designologyluxuryinteriors), worked on the makeover of the guest bathroom in a Wellington, Florida, equestrian estate. The glass door lets the great outdoors in, but the interior is totally urbane. A pair of vintage mirrors salvaged from an old steamship set the sophisticated tone, which is echoed in the polished bronze faucets and matching pulls on the custom maple vanity—a sleek design finished in Rustic Gray stain by Sherwin Williams. Photograph by Ken Hayden

For the renovation of an undistinguished 1980s colonial house in Minneapolis, architect Meriwether Felt turned the bland main bathroom into a sophisticated retreat with a somewhat rustic feel by installing characterful cherry moldings, trims, and casings. “The stained wood warms up the bathroom and provides richness,” Felt says. “The client asked for a luxurious yet elegant feeling, and cherry fit the bill perfectly.” Photograph by Susan Gilmore

Modern Scandinavian design inspired the main bathroom in a Santa Monica, California, house by Hamilton Architects (@hamiltonarchla); ergo, the clean lines, warm materials, and uncluttered forms that characterize the effortlessly chic, spa-like space. Chief among the scene-setting elements are the sculptural tub, graphic black faucets, and the custom floating vanity. The rift-sawn white-oak cabinetry is an unbroken expanse that’s free of hardware or other visually distracting details. Photograph by Paul Barnaby

Visit www.hardwoodinfo.com for more about using American hardwoods in the bathroom.

(NewsUSA) - From election-season opinion polls to holiday-season parties, “fake news” is everywhere – and the harm goes beyond what’s said on the evening broadcast or the dinner table.

The new Intelligence Interim Panel Report from the bipartisan Special Competitive Studies Project argues that technological advances in artificial intelligence and new media platforms such as TikTok allow for more messages, real and fake, to flood the open information environment. Many people repeat fake news without realizing that it is fake, according to the report. Fake news may be disinformation or outright propaganda from foreign governments.

“U.S. rivals increasingly resort to the aggressive use of digitally enabled disinformation to target U.S. decision-making, America’s reputation abroad, and social cohesion at home,” according to the report. "The scale, scope and the snowballing effect of these influence operations make disinformation a particularly acute concern for national security.”

Older social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter have tried to mitigate disinformation after facing years of criticism of spreading news and information most likely to be shared, with no verification of authenticity.

The newer and popular TikTok platform poses additional risks; its endless and rapid-fire scroll means users have less time and inclination to scrutinize what they see. Some in the national security sector also suspect the platform of providing data to the Chinese Communist Party leadership.

The report recommends several ways the U.S. can counter false information, including communicating common false narratives and themes to Americans and “prebunking” false information that is likely to enter the mainstream. The U.S. did this earlier this year when it alerted Americans of Russia’s intent to invade Ukraine, preempting Russian disinformation campaigns about the conflict and building American support for Ukraine, a strategy the report states “should be replicated whenever possible.”

The report also advises fighting AI with AI by training machines how to identify dangerous, harmful and false information. People play a role, too; all Americans can support digital literacy. Stay skeptical of your social media by checking sources, authors and dates, reading beyond the headlines and beyond the individual news items, checking biases and asking experts.

“Technology certainly challenges democracy,” said former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice at the recent Global Emerging Technology Summit. “But to the extent we can point out and replicate those places where technology helps the citizens to live better without fearing government, democracy will have the edge.”

Visit scsp.ai to learn more.

(NewsUSA) - Murder Baby by G.J. Stoutimore

This is not a fairy tale.
This is a nightmare.

A young orphan seeks vengeance against the Yakuza man who killed her parents…A jaded Ronin seeks out an old colleague before enacting a last ritual…and an ancient demon taunts a former Knight of a holy order from the blade of her ancient samurai sword. This is the story of Raffi Okamoto, the Last Knight of Sadira.

Murder Baby is the debut entry in a twisted, dark fantasy novel series from the mind of
G.J. Stoutimore. It is a story of demons, angels, the humans that fight their wars, and
the lives left broken and buried in their wake. It tells a tale of belonging, the testing of kinship, loss, trauma, identity, and death. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3WgKi4q.

My Name’s Not Jenny by Jeannine Lokey

Though written as a fictional novel, this book is based on the true story of three accomplished individuals who come together after finding themselves faced with major life-changing events. It is a moving and emotionally charged account of doing the right thing despite all odds.

Regardless of criticism from family members and friends, Joseph’s devotion was uncompromising and his love for Anna undeniable. A devoted mother and wife of the CEO of a multibillion-dollar financial institution, Anna is faced with a difficult decision.

Banking executive Jillian, with nowhere to go but up, is faced with her own crushing blows. At the height of her career, she throws in the towel to help Joseph stay the course. A must-read for anyone considering In-Home Assisted Living for a loved one. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3vgq0MK.

Lemon Curd Killer by Laura Childs

High tea and high fashion turn deadly in this latest installment of the New York Times bestselling series.

Tea shop entrepreneur Theodosia Browning has been tapped to host a fancy Limón Tea in a genuine lemon orchard as a rousing kickoff to Charleston Fashion Week. But as fairy lights twinkle and the scent of lemon wafts among the tea tables, the deadly murder of a fashion designer puts the squeeze on things.

As the lemon curd begins to sour, the murdered woman’s daughter begs Theodosia to help find the killer. Tea events and fashion shows must go on, however, which puts Theodosia and her tea sommelier, Drayton Conneley, in the thick of squabbling business partners, crazed clothing designers, irate film producers, drug deals, and a disastrous Tea Trolley Tour. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3vuOT7x.

From Scratch by David Moscow & Jon Moscow

“Adventurous Anthony Bourdain-esque eaters and readers will savor David Moscow’s every word,” says Reader’s Digest,  “as he travels far (Ciao, sea of Sardinia) and near (howdy, Texas plains) to learn from farmers, hunters, fisherfolk, and scientists about how our food reaches our plates.”

Moscow, creator and star of the groundbreaking series “From Scratch,” takes us on an exploration of our planet’s complex and interconnected food supply, showing us where our food comes from and why it matters in this new book of global culinary adventures – a Publishers Weekly bestseller.

Moscow has spent four years going around the world, meeting with rock-star chefs, and sourcing ingredients within local food ecosystems. He brings back stories of the communities, workers, and environments involved—some thriving, some in jeopardy, all interconnected with food. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3JzOOHZ.

BookTrib’s Bites is presented by BookTrib.com.

Revised 3/7/2023

(NewsUSA) - March is National Reading Month, and the Toys for Tots Literacy Program continues its commitment to helping children “Unplug and March into Reading” by placing books into the hands of less fortunate children and encouraging families to unplug from their screens and electronic devices and enjoy a book together!

Literacy is the foundation for success in life, and it starts with early access to books in childhood.  Unfortunately, children in low-income families have very limited access to age-appropriate books.

The Toys for Tots Literacy Program was established in 2008 as a year-round effort to offer our Nation’s most economically disadvantaged children the ability to compete academically and to succeed in life by providing them direct access to books and educational resources that enhance their ability to read and communicate effectively. “This Program not only brings the joy of reading to these children, but it also serves as an important tool in breaking the cycle of poverty,” says Lieutenant General Jim Laster, USMC (Retired), President and CEO of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. “Our goal is to dramatically change the landscape for less fortunate children and provide books and educational resources to ensure their future success,” he adds.

Since its founding, the Program has delivered more than 53 million books to children in low-income communities and Title I funded schools across the United States. Last year, the Program delivered a record number of over 6.3 million books to disadvantaged children—breaking the cycle of poverty one book at a time.

Most people know Toys for Tots as the organization that brings holiday cheer to children in need with gifts of new toys, but Toys for Tots remains committed to the welfare of children throughout the year with initiatives such as the Toys for Tots Literacy Program. One hundred percent of each dollar donated goes toward purchasing books for economically disadvantaged children.

“By getting books into the hands of less fortunate students, teachers, and families, we are helping children become their best selves,” LtGen Laster emphasizes. Children who have developed strong reading skills perform better in school and have a healthier self-image and a stronger sense of well-being.

All children can improve their reading comprehension skills by unplugging from screens and reading books themselves, playing word games, and reading aloud with family members. Unplug and March into reading with family, peers, or get lost in a book by yourself—and consider making a donation to the Toys for Tots Literacy Program to bring the transformative power of reading to all children.

Visit toysfortots.org for more information about the Toys for Tots Literacy Program and to donate.

(NewsUSA) - This is not a gilded age novel. It’s a novel of the smoke and grit that were the pride of a booming city. It takes readers to another time and another world that is distant but familiar.

Steel City by William J. Miller Jr. takes readers to the cauldron of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in the late nineteenth century. The steel business has made the city the industrial capital of not just the country but the world. And through the eyes of Jamie Dalton, readers witness the titanic events of that city in that age:

• The Johnstown Flood that killed over 2,000 people, the country’s greatest natural disaster of the century.
• The Homestead Steel Strike of 1892, in which Henry Clay Frick sent an army of Pinkertons to break the back of the labor movement.
• An anarchist’s assassination attempt on Frick’s life in revenge for Homestead.
• The fight to the death between Frick and Andrew Carnegie for control of the country’s predominant steel company.
• The inside story of what is still the largest corporate buyout of all time.

At the time, Pittsburgh’s technological innovations and wealth creation made it the Silicon Valley of its day. It was first in steel, food processing, and electricity, and the leaders of those industries—Carnegie, Frick, Heinz, and Westinghouse—are names we still know today.

The author, William J. Miller Jr., grew up in Pittsburgh and was always fascinated by the living connections to its storied past: the Carnegie Library and Museum, the Carnegie Institute of Technology, and, in his own neighborhood, the Frick mansion, where Henry Frick’s daughter, Helen, still lived. Miller has spent his entire career in journalistic enterprises as reporter, publisher, blogger, and Time Inc. consumer marketing veteran. 

In this historical novel, Jamie, his father Richard, his mother Eleanor, and Pittsburgh society high and low navigate the social and economic issues of the late nineteenth century that still resonate today: corporate vs. individual responsibility, labor relations, suffrage, income inequality, substance abuse, media ethics. Steel City portrays the rich panoply of that era.

Jamie, a recent Yale graduate and son of a corporate lawyer, must decide whether to accede to his father’s wishes and pursue a career in law or the steel business, or follow his own instincts and become a newspaperman. The Johnstown Flood confirms his choice to be a journalist, and Jamie goes on to cover Pittsburgh’s business titans, labor strikes and assassination attempts.

While reporting on the unions of the era, he is exposed to a very different world, symbolized by his infatuation with a mysterious woman under the sway of an Eastern European anarchist. Jamie struggles with balancing the access he has to Pittsburgh’s business elite while maintaining the objectivity to tell the hard truths about those same people. Ultimately, he must thwart a terrorist plot that could disrupt the massive corporate merger that would restructure the nation’s largest industry: steel.

With deep research and a bibliography that shows an abiding respect for the facts and for the context of the lifestyle and the geopolitical environment of the time, readers leave Steel City with a sense of what life was like during this period. Purchase at https://amzn.to/3XVDcTk.

Revised 3/7/2023

(NewsUSA) - Auto Glass Now Announces a Chance to Win One of 23 Pairs of Ray-Ban Sunglasses

Charlotte, NC (February 27, 2023) – Auto Glass Now, known for fast, friendly, and convenient auto glass services, announces their Spring Fixin’ giveaway where Auto Glass Now will gift 23 winners with a pair of special Ray-Ban shades ahead of the 2023 spring break season.

The sweepstakes invites entrants to share their spring break plans for a chance to win at SpringFixin.com. It will run from Monday, February 27 through 11:59 PM ET on March 13, 2023, and is open to anyone in the U.S.

“Spring break is right around the corner, and we are excited to help our lucky winners see clearly as they enjoy their vacation or staycation in style,” said Michael Lopez, president, Auto Glass Now. “We help customers get rid of chips or cracks on their windshields, and now we’re taking it to the next level so you can enjoy some fun in the sun.”

Following the closing of the giveaway, 23 winners will be randomly selected on Wednesday, March 15. The winner will be contacted through email to receive their prize and must respond within five business days.

“We’ve had strong customer loyalty through the years because our Auto Glass Now family is committed to offering customers the best quality auto glass repairs and replacement, at an incredible value,” continued Lopez. “I’m thrilled that we can continue doing the work we love, and excited to give back to our valued customers.”

For more information, the rules governing the giveaway, and to enter, visit SpringFixin.com.

About Auto Glass Now

Auto Glass Now offers fast, friendly, and convenient auto glass services across the country with almost 100 locations throughout the United States. The local team of experts can help provide trusted auto glass repairs, replacements, and calibrations. A part of the Driven Brands family of automotive aftermarket companies, Auto Glass Now delivers national scale and efficiency, alongside its premier service quality. Visit AutoGlassNow.com to learn more.

About Driven Brands

Driven Brands™, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the largest automotive services company in North America, providing a range of consumer and commercial automotive needs, including paint, collision, glass, vehicle repair, oil change, maintenance and car wash. Driven Brands is the parent company of some of North America's leading automotive service businesses including Take 5 Oil Change®, Take 5 Car Wash®, Meineke Car Care Centers®, Maaco®, 1-800-Radiator & A/C®, Auto Glass Now®, and CARSTAR®. Driven Brands has more than 4,800 locations across 15 countries, and services over 50 million vehicles annually. Driven Brands' network generates approximately $2 billion in annual revenue from more than $5.6 billion in system-wide sales.

(NewsUSA) - Lobster Wars by Mark E. Greene

A tight, fast-paced social satire about what happens when reality TV comes to a small fishing village in Maine. The locals think they’re going to get famous and rich. But it’s never that easy -- especially when Connor Nichols, a telegenic outsider, a guy from “away,” gets a lobster fishing license and horns in on their good fortune.

The TV show airs to great ratings, only increasing the pressure, prompting a few unsavory characters to do anything they can to get in on the action. With filming about to begin, everything now hinges on season two. But it’s reality TV—what could go wrong? From an award-winning author with an offbeat sense of humor and a sharp eye for the absurd. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3YET1iw.

The Promise of America by William Sanchez

Born in Spanish Harlem to Cuban refugee parents, Will Sanchez has represented marginalized communities ever since he graduated from Georgetown Law. Having served the country as a White House appointee and Special Counsel shortly after 9/11, he recently ran for U.S. Senate in Florida as a progressive with bold ideas for America’s future. 

The Promise of America guides readers through personal family stories as well as broader topics touching on America’s promise for the future and the absolute need to protect and strengthen the democracy. “My background had a great impact on my respect for America’s cherished principles. The recent attacks on our democracy inspired me to get more directly involved in trying to secure that America as nation will be greater in the future than it is now.  Purchase at https://bit.ly/3XkvmTy.

Burned Out by Dean Mafako

Eric Philson came to the Children's Hospital of Biloxi with a goal ― to build the cardiac intensive care unit from the ground up. The physician faces insurmountable odds: the devastating aftereffects of a hurricane, deprivation of essential staff and resources, and a cardiac surgeon resistant to change. 

Dr. Philson will do whatever it takes to help improve the care for children, until the job begins to take a toll on his free time, marriage, and health. How much is he willing to sacrifice? Working hundred-hour weeks, overcoming the impossible, and facing personal ruin are only the start of what he will face. Does he have the grit and determination to do what's right, even if it costs him everything? Purchase at https://bit.ly/3kpk2ab.

Did We Learn Anything from WTC Towers Collapse?...  By Gregory Szuladzinski

The most extensive investigation of the event was made by NIST, a government-funded institution. The most glaring error was to treat the fireballs associated with aircraft impacts as merely a fuel-burning action and ignoring the devastating pressure impulse involved.

NIST reports describe in detail the condition of the structure prior to collapse. It is said that a high-temperature softening of steel was responsible for the initiation of collapse, but such an explanation is suitable for an engineering student, not for a large team of specialists. What was needed was the exact sequence of element failures, because only from it can we learn about the design's weaknesses.

Another flaw was the lack of comprehensive treatment of thermal insulation. There was no awareness of the fact that too thick insulation may fall off under impact conditions. Purchase at https://bit.ly/3XLzewK.

BookTrib’s Bites is presented by BookTrib.com.

(NewsUSA) - Financial planning is about helping individuals and families make sound financial decisions that enable them to achieve their life goals. When financial planners provide these services to diverse clients, they help bridge the gaps between different communities.

A growing body of research shows that minority communities in the United States are both increasing in size and building greater wealth. However, studies have also found persistent racial gaps in wealth, financial literacy and access to or use of professional financial advice.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has found, for example, that African American and Hispanic individuals tend to score lower on financial literacy tests than Asian American and White test takers. African American and Hispanic adults are also more likely to experience unexpected drops in income, be unbanked or underbanked, and have difficulty making ends meet or saving for future expenses, according to FINRA.

CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^TM professionals play a vital role in helping to close those gaps. CFP^® professionals guide clients through building wealth, managing financial challenges and securing their families’ financial futures. Depending on the client, that work could be as simple as helping a family create and stick to a monthly budget, or as complex as developing a diversified investment strategy to save for retirement. In either case, a CFP^® professional helps their clients build financial knowledge along with their wealth — both of which can lead to greater equality among diverse communities.

Thousands of CFP^® professionals around the country also partner with organizations that provide free, quality personal financial advice to individuals who cannot otherwise access financial planning services. The Foundation for Financial Planning, for example, connects volunteer financial planners with individuals and families in need through a variety of programs. These programs provide the many benefits of financial planning to people who might not be able to afford professional financial advice, those who live in an underserved community or those who have other personal challenges.

CFP^® professionals help to promote financial literacy and awareness of financial planning within their communities, too. Many of them share this knowledge by participating in community events or by leading workshops or other educational programming at community centers. One program offered by Rock the Street, Wall Street has enlisted CFP^® professional volunteers to provide financial literacy and investment instruction to high school girls and to encourage them to consider financial services careers.

With a career as a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER^TM professional, you can help improve people’s financial lives and make a real difference in your community. To learn more about what financial planners do and the benefits of a financial planning career, visit CFP.net to download CFP Board’s free “Guide to Careers in Financial Planning.”

(NewsUSA) -