(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.