40% OF HOUSEHOLDS WILL PAY NO FEDERAL INCOME TAX THIS YEAR:
Some 72.5 million households or 40% of households will pay no federal income tax this year, down from the pre-pandemic high of 60% two years ago, according to new estimates from the Tax Policy Center. In 2021, nearly 56% of households or 99 million households paid no federal income tax, down from 60% or 100 million households in 2020, the nonpartisan think tank said in the report. For 2022, the standard deduction is worth $12,950 for individuals and $25,900 for married couples filing jointly. People earning below that amount do not owe federal income taxes. Massive job losses in the pandemic’s early stages sent millions of people to unemployment lines and temporary rules exempted much of 2020 jobless benefits from income taxes, Howard Gleckman, senior fellow at Tax Policy Center, said. Meanwhile, there were waves of direct cash assistance that were all technically tax credits – two rounds of stimulus checks in 2020 and another round in 2021, plus a temporarily enhanced child tax credit. Those waves came and went. The approximate 40% of households projected to pay no federal income tax is back to pre-pandemic levels, and is even slightly smaller than the 42% to 43% range during recent pre-pandemic years, Gleckman noted.
Putin Battling Cancer And Parkinson’s Disease, Leaked Emails Claim:
Russian President Vladimir Putin is battling both pancreatic cancer and Parkinson’s disease, according to a new report citing leaked Kremlin emails. A Russian intelligence source appeared to confirm in messages viewed by The Sun what has long been rumored about the 70-year-old strongman. “I can confirm he has been diagnosed with early-stage Parkinson’s disease, but it’s already progressing,” the security services insider reportedly claimed. “This fact will be denied in every possible way and hidden,” the source said, according to The Sun. “Putin is regularly stuffed with all kinds of heavy steroids and innovative painkilling injections to stop the spread of pancreatic cancer he was recently diagnosed with,” the person said. “It not only causes a lot of pain, Putin has a state of puffiness of the face and other side effects – including memory lapses,” the source continued. “In his close circle, there are rumors that in addition to pancreatic cancer, which is gradually spreading, Putin also has prostate cancer,” the insider added. Rumors about Putin’s supposedly poor health have been circulating for months, with several unconfirmed reports saying the president is battling cancer. The Kremlin has always denied that Putin, who likes to project an image of strength, suffers from any illnesses.
Accused Paul Pelosi Attacker Was In U.S. Illegally On Overstayed Visa:
The man accused of attacking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer was in the country illegally, ICE sources said. David DePape, who was hit with federal and local charges Monday in the violent attack on 82-year-old Paul Pelosi, was in the U.S. illegally because he overstayed his visa, according to sources. The 42-year-old suspect was born in Canada in 1980 and was in the U.S. as early as 2001, sources said, citing his valid Social Security number, which can only be obtained with a job. The Social Security number was obtained in Hawaii, sources said. It’s unclear how long DePape stayed in the country past the legal threshold. DePape faces charges from the San Francisco District Attorney’s Office for attempted murder, assault with a deadly weapon and other criminal counts. He was also charged federally with attempted kidnapping and assault. He allegedly broke into Nancy Pelosi’s house in a bid to find the House speaker, but only her husband was home in what San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins on Monday called a politically motivated attack.
Examiner – Lens:
Bed Bath & Beyond’s stock has dropped 65% this year.
More Americans Smoke Marijuana Than Cigarettes, Poll Finds:
A majority of people say they smoke marijuana more than cigarettes, based on data from a new Gallup poll. Sixteen percent of Americans say they currently smoke marijuana with 48% of respondents sharing that they have tried it at some point in their life – the highest rate ever recorded by Gallup. Last year, 12% of respondents said they used marijuana. The poll released on August 16 was part of a study that examined people’s attitudes regarding marijuana’s benefits to society. Gallup’s poll finds that marijuana use was higher among adults between the ages of 18 and 34 with 30% responding that they smoke pot and 22% consume marijuana edibles. These numbers are significantly lower in both categories for adults 35 to 54 years old (16%) and Americans 55 and older (7%). The analytics and research company conducted a related poll on August 26 that collected responses for a survey discussing alcohol, cigarette, and marijuana use among Americans. A new record low of 11% of adults reported smoking cigarettes with approximately three in 10 nonsmokers stating they used to smoke, a steep drop in cigarette use compared to 45% in the 1950s.
California Dad, 22-Year-Old Daughter Stabbed To Death By Homeless Man:
A California man and his 22-year-old daughter have been stabbed to death by a homeless man while they were working on their car outside a Kohl’s, police said. Ken Evans, 54, and McKenna Evans were spending time together around noon Thursday by tinkering on their sedan in Palmdale, just north of Los Angeles, when the man attacked them for no apparent reason. Ken was rushed to a hospital, where he died, while his daughter was pronounced dead at the scene. L.A. County sheriff’s deputies have arrested a suspect, who they said may be a transient, according to local reports. Elizabeth Evans, the victims’ devastated wife and mother, mourned the shocking loss. “She wasn’t just my daughter, she was my best friend,” the mom said Sunday about McKenna. “She was just full of joy, and she cared for both people and animals.” She told KTLA: “She was an absolute beacon … She didn’t know a stranger. Everybody became her best friend.”
Examiner – Lens:
The misoprostol pill is used to terminate early pregnancies.
Wildly (Politically) Incorrect by George Vandeman:
** Insects Update
Scientists estimate that there are 20 quadrillion ants on Earth. (My count was a little off). They say that the tiny insects weigh more than all of the wild mammals and birds. Your science dollars at work here.
** JOMO Update
What is JOMO, you ask? It’s the Joy Of Missing Out. There is a rising trend to cancel plans at the last minute to embrace the joy of missing out. A psychologist says cancelling plans gives us a huge rush of joy.
** Stress Relief Update
For stress relief and a dose of positivity, cow-cuddling may be just the thing. It’s “naturally relaxing,” says an animal sanctuary. These are baby cows, by the way. I feel a franchise opportunity coming on.
** Wealth Update
A study of 7,000 people in 33 countries has shown that most people do not want to be billionaires. Whew! That’s a relief. Apparently, around $8 million is considered the perfect amount of money for an “absolutely ideal life.”
** Tinder Profiles Update
This is one for all of us men. A study reveals that if you want to impress on your Tinder profile, keep your top on! Men who pose topless are seen as less competent and more promiscuous.
** Saudi Law Update
A man was arrested under Saudi’s religious laws after dedicating his pilgrimage to Mecca to late Queen Elizabeth II, and unveiling a banner in her honor. This guy should have known that visitors to Mecca are banned from dedicating their pilgrimages to deceased non-Muslims.
** AI Update
A study has revealed that Teslas will be “more intelligent” than humans by 2033, as their microchips already have 36% of the capacity of the brain. The new microchips can handle 362 trillion operations per second, whereas the human brain is capable of only one quadrillion. I know. I keep hitting that ceiling. Tesla’s microchips increase their capability by a rate of 486% per year.
** Marital Affairs Update
Here is one for the record books. A New Jersey man is caught making daily visits to urinate on the grave of the ex-wife he divorced 48 years ago. Talk about holding a grudge! There has been no long-term increase in heatwave frequency or severity in the U.S. over the last century, and deaths from heatwaves have fallen significantly. Like America as a whole, California has abundant energy reserves, especially natural gas, which we could use to reliably power our economy and society while reducing carbon emissions.
** Great News for America Update
We will end this week’s missive with some surprisingly great news. According to a Wall Street Journal poll, 91% of Republicans agree that America is the greatest country in the world. Even 61% of Dems agree. 85% of Republicans agreed that if people work hard, they are likely to get ahead in America. Barely a majority, at 53%, of Democrats agreed.
Examiner – Loose Lips:
Alanis Morissette’s daughter has a new name to use when calling out for her mom. Appearing on the Gary Bryan Morning Show on Audacy’s K-EARTH 101 Thursday, the “Ironic” singer, 48, shared that her 6-year-old daughter Onyx Solace no longer calls Morissette “mom.” “My daughter has taken to calling me by my full name because she notices that no one uses my full name when we’re in personal environments,” Morissette said. “So instead of saying ‘mom,’ she’ll say, ‘Alanis Morissette.’”
Examiner – (Notable) Remarks:
** There’s a conundrum in President Biden’s relief plan for student loan debt. The more merciful the government is to debtors, the worse the incentives it creates. People will be more likely to borrow unwisely if they expect the government to forgive their unpayable loans. —- Peter Coy
** Monsters are real, and ghosts are real too. They live inside us, and sometimes, they win. —- Stephen King
** This skyrocketing population of young people with gender dysphoria is fueling our culture wars. Some states, including Alabama and Arizona, have outlawed gender medical treatments of minors – including irreversible hormonal and surgical interventions – while other states are seeking to make it a felony to provide such care. In response, California aims to pass a law to become a sanctuary state for minors seeking gender medical interventions – even without parental consent. —- Lisa Selin Davis (Author of TOMBOY)
** Despite the claims, there’s no evidence that water marketed as alkaline is better for your health than tap water. “It’s all about marketing,” said Tanis Fenton, a registered dietitian and epidemiologist at Cumming School of Medicine at the University of Calgary. “There is no science to back it up.” —- Alice Callahan, New York Times
** There was no good time for Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked, idiotic invasion of Ukraine. But this is a uniquely bad time. Because it’s diverting worldwide attention and resources needed to mitigate climate change – during what may be the last decade when we still have a chance to manage the climate extremes that are now unavoidable and avoid those that could become unmanageable. Unfortunately, what happens between Ukraine and Russia does not stay between Ukraine and Russia. That’s because the world is flatter than ever. —- Thomas L. Friedman
Examiner – Readers Have Spoken:
IS THE INVASION OF UKRAINE GOING ACCORDING TO RUSSIA’S PLAN?
We asked Examiner readers in all 50 of the United States and in 26 foreign countries for their thoughts. The Examiner readers have spoken.
INFORM YOUR DECISIONS WITH “INDEPENDENT” AND “UNBIASED” NEWS AND INFORMATION:
The world-acclaimed LBN Examiner puts today’s headlines in context with insights that matter to you and your capacity to make decisions clearly in a complicated, chaotic world. Invite your friends, family, and associates worldwide to sign up for free (if they’ve got the guts).
www.LBNExaminer.com
EXAMINER – INVESTIGATES:
** Music is just as beneficial to mental health as exercise. READ
** Visualizing how many people have ever lived. READ
** FBI Guide to Internet Slang – With the advent of Twitter and other social media venues, the FBI created a list of shorthand acronyms used on Twitter and other social media platforms. READ
** Eating at least two servings of avocados per week is linked to lower risk of cardiovascular disease. READ
** Visualizing the world’s richest people. READ
** A curious owl’s extreme close-up on a weather camera. READ
** The evolution of smartphone night photography. VIDEO
** Scientists find 75 genes linked to increased risk of Alzheimer’s, including 42 that had never been previously implicated in the disease. READ
** A teen receives 27 college acceptances, including from Harvard and Yale. READ
** Baskin-Robbins rebrands, introduces three new flavors. READ
** Could lab-grown salmon be the future of fish? READ
** Researchers create a cell atlas for a key region of the brain involved in reinforcing addictive behaviors; may help lead to new treatments for substance abuse disorders. READ
** Florida rejected more than 40 math textbooks that contained social and emotional concepts. Officials did not share the specific content. READ
** Directed ultrasonic waves shown to largely destroy liver tumors in rats; the noninvasive technique allowed the animals’ immune system to clear the remaining cancer cells. READ
** MRI study links greater asymmetry in the shape of the left brain hemisphere to increased ability to process written words into sounds. READ
“Intel for Influencers” – Who Reads the LBN Examiner?
Senator Mitt Romney along with 12 members of the White House staff, 3 Nobel Prize winners, over 100 Academy Award winners, 6 U.S. Senators, and over 300 Grammy Award winners.
Now you can invite your friends and family to sign up for free (if they’ve got the guts): www.LBNExaminer.com
Killings In NYC Subway System Skyrocket To Highest Level In 25 Years – Even As Ridership Plummeted:
Killings in the New York City subway system since 2020 have skyrocketed to the highest annual levels in 25 years, even amid plummeting ridership numbers, as the city grapples with an overall spike in random violence, NYPD data show. Since 1997, there had never been more than five subway murders in a single year until the COVID-19 pandemic struck in 2020 and brought that number up to six for the first time in decades. The next year, murders shot up to eight. So far in 2022, there have already been seven killings.
Examiner – A Look Back:
Bob Dylan in 2013 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, on his “Never-Ending Tour.”
Illegal Border Crossings To Us From Mexico Hit Annual High:
A surge in migration from Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua in September brought the number of illegal crossings to the highest level ever recorded in a fiscal year, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The year-end numbers reflect deteriorating economic and political conditions in some countries, the relative strength of the U.S. economy and uneven enforcement of Trump-era asylum restrictions. Migrants were stopped 227,547 times in September at the U.S. border with Mexico, the third-highest month of Joe Biden’s presidency. It was up 11.5% from 204,087 times in August and 18.5% from 192,001 times in September 2021. In the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, migrants were stopped 2.38 million times, up 37% from 1.73 million times the year before, according to figures released late Friday night. The annual total surpassed 2 million for the first time in August and is more than twice the highest level during Donald Trump’s presidency in 2019.
TRUE, DAT…
“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” – Bill Gates
www.BrokenWindowsBook.com
Examiner – Business:
** Beyond Meat launched its steak product in 5k+ stores. Beyond’s stock is down 80%+ this year, and it plans to cut 19% of staff. (Also, its COO was arrested for biting someone’s nose.)
** A major survey of U.S. economists found their estimated probability for a recession in the next year to be 63%, up from 49% in July.
** Tyson Foods will pay $10.5m to settle a lawsuit alleging that it and 18 other companies collaborated to drive up the cost of chicken sold to restaurants.
** Meta stock plunged 25% to its lowest point since 2016. The company is valued at ~$265B, down from $1T+ in 2021. (Home Depot, for reference, is worth $291B.)
Examiner – Reader Poll:
ELON MUSK – GENIUS OR JERK?
Send your reply to: LBNExaminer@TimeWire.net
Examiner – 20 Years – A Look At 2002
The LBN Examiner was founded on June 1, 2002, an incredible 20 years ago. Let’s take a look back at what was going on in 2002:
** On November 6, at the 36th Country Music Association Award ceremony, Alan Jackson & Martina McBride were winners.
** On November 7, Iran banned advertising of products from the United States.
EXAMINER: WORTH A LOOK
1. The Last Waltz
2. Jasmine de Lung
3. Jim Thebaut
4. Dr. Mark Scholz
Examiner – A Different View:…
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