Expecting a refund in 2013? The IRS has announced they expect refunds to be processed about as quickly in 2013 as they were in 2012. Last year, the IRS issued more than 9 out of 10 refunds to taxpayers in less than 21 days; the average refund was about $3,000. For the new year, you…
One out of every 45 children – some 1.6 million – in the United States is homeless, according to a report released by the National Center on Family Homelessness. The majority of the children are under age 7, about the same age as my youngest children. Even more grim: almost 40% of the homeless population…
Who is rich? After more than a year of arguing about the budget, the answer to that single question may be the answer to our economic woes. As talks continue, House Speaker John Boehner has signaled that he might be willing to compromise on raising tax rates but only for top wage earners. The problem…
Dear corporate types, I do love the B52s but under no circumstances should “Rock Lobster” be played – and danced to – at a company party. That was my tweet on yesterday. I happened to be working at a venue not far from such a party. It was a mishmash of mostly middle-aged corporate types…
Christmas came early this year for the Senate. No, there’s no budget deal – nothing so trivial as that. We’re talking super serious stuff. Like holiday parties. Yes, in between speeches about how they can’t get anything done this year, the Senate Secret Santa Exchange went on as planned. Sixty-two Senators managed to agree to…
With 19 days left on the calendar until the end of the year, Congress is pretending like they want to make a deal on the budget. But if you think that means we’ll see significant reform between now and then, don’t hold your breath. Yesterday, House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and President Barack Obama held…
Statistically, students who are involved in music (either appreciation or performance) do better in school. According to the American Chemical Society, nearly 100% of past winners in the prestigious Siemens Westinghouse Competition in Math, Science, and Technology (for high School students) play one or more musical instruments (The Midland Chemist (American Chemical Society) Vol. 42,…
On Friday, the Supreme Court of the United States granted certiorari on two same sex marriage cases. Those cases include Hollingsworth v. Perry, a challenge to California’s controversial Proposition 8 measure, and a case out of New York, U.S. v Windsor, which considers the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). As noted on…
Nothing to see here, folks. Despite some whisperings about a surprise meeting over the weekend between House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and President Obama – that did happen – there has not been an announcement that a compromise has been reached on the economy. I’m not sure where the confusion came from but folks have…
The U.S. isn’t the only country struggling with a budget crisis. Swaziland, officially referred to as the Kingdom of Swaziland, a small country in Africa is sorting out its own economic woes. Once a U.K. protectorate, Swaziland gained independence in 1968. It is currently a monarchy and though there is a parliament, the king, currently…