Stories from NPR this morning
I thought I'd comment on some news stories each morning that peeked my interest from NPR's marketplace show. I'll try to add links so you can follow the story.
1. The average teacher pays $443 per year for supplies which they won't be refunded.
This story from theNews-Messenger.com gives some background into the story. The suggestion this morning was that the average teacher will pay $443 of their own money towards teaching supplies but may not be able to claim it as a business expense. Some teachers questioned on the show said that although most teachers outline the number on their taxes, there is a rumour that auditors from the IRS may not recognize it as a business expense.
My friend Mark told me that his girlfriend has spent over $400 on supplies this summer in preparation for class yet will only receive $250 to reimburse her from state funds. This blows my mind on two counts. Firstly, that the states don't provide more money for teachers to adequately fill the classrooms with the materials a teacher needs but more importantly, that there is some question as to whether this can be classed as a business expense? I don't know any teachers who are in the profession for the money and that is why they spend their own money to make sure the kids get a good education each year. Cut them a break!
2. Universal child care funded by the taxpayer could strengthen the economy.
A report out in England by Economists at Price Waterhouse Cooper has been passed to the British Government that suggests Universal childcare in the UK would be worth 40bn pounds over the next 65 years. The scheme to provide childcare to all children between the ages of one and four would immediately impact the levels of female employment, rising from 74 to 81 percent in 35 to 49 year olds, for example. It also suggested a 2 percent increase in average earnings of those in childcare, but up to 10 percent increase for disadvantaged children. Mothers would also benefit from higher average earnings from taking less time off.
The taxpayers would have to provide 75% of the costs of the scheme as outlined, which seems to be the only drawback to the scheme, since an article from January year pointed out that the British Government was currently failing to meet it's childcare goals.
I went to a Pre-school/Nursery (age 3 thru 5) in England and one thing I noticed at University was that the majority of people there had all been to Nursery school. In contrast, the majority of the kids I knew at Senior School (age 11 thru 16) who went straight into jobs at 16 had not been to Nursery school. I think Nursery school also makes for more sociable, independent individuals not to mention the health benefits.
3. Is Mars responsible for the storms this summer in Georgia?
This one is a huge guess but I was curious if there is any link between the bad weather experienced this summer not only in the state of Georgia, but all over the US. Mars was the closest it has ever been in 60,000 years yesterday at 5.11am. I personally intend to visit the the Fernbank museums event at Stone Mountain Park to get a peek at the planet up close.
I work for a company that sells swimming pool chemicals so we have collectively been nervous about the weather this year. Since I moved to Georgia 2 years ago I hadn't seen such consistently bad weather but people who have lived here all their lives couldn't remember such bad storms either.
I'm no astrophysicist/meteorologist so I'd be interested in any comments explaining why my idea is absurd. I know the gravitational pull of the moon has an effect on our tides so why not a passing planet?
4. Dwindling support for Tony Blair.
Yesterday a work colleague asked about the people of England losting confidence in Tony Blair and today on NPR they covered it directly. It seems his handling of the information surrounding Iraq's nuclear weapons is losing him votes.
I believe I pointed this out before but over 40% of American's surveyed believed Tony Blair would make a good US President. I was delighted to stumble across his 2004 campaign website this morning. Watch out George and Hilary...
5. Gas prices.
Suck it up America. The average gas price in the US is currently $1.627 per gallon. In the UK price is measured by the litre and typically a Brit in June 2003 paid 74p per litre / 336p per UK gallon / 284p per US gallon / $4.47 per US gallon. Nearly three times the price. So when you wonder why we Brits drive small cars just think. To fill a 22.5 gallon Ford Explorer would cost $100!
6. Farnsworth screws up Kerry Wood's game vs the Cardinals.
I was really disappointed to see Farnsworth come in to relieve Kerry Wood last night against the Cardinals with the score at 2-0 Cubs (Bot 8th) and screw it up so badly that by the time the game finished the Cubs lost 4-2. I think I jinxed them with my gentleman's bet with a friend at work who is a Cardinals fan. I propose that the Cubs will finish higher in the Division than the Cardinals.
Since starting softball earlier this year I have developed a better understanding of baseball and really enjoy watching games now. I went to many games in Chicago before moving to Atlanta and have even got tickets courtesy of Melissa for my birthday, Sept 12th when they take on Cincinatti at Wrigley Field. Can't wait.