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☆ Thomas Midgley Jr.: The man who almost destroyed the planet (twice)
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-24 | by ( Jacopo Prisco | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Facing a crowd of journalists, inventor Thomas Midgley Jr. poured a lead additive over his hands and then proceeded to inhale its fumes for about a minute. Unfazed, he said, “I could do this every day without getting any health problems whatsoever.”Soon afterward, Midgley needed medical treatment. The task of addressing the issue of engine knocking fell to Midgley while he was working at General Motors in 1916. An estimated 1 million people a year still die from lead poisoning, according to the World Health Organization. The toxicity of lead was already well-known when Midgley added it to gas, but that didn’t stop Ethyl from becoming a commercial success.

Persons: Thomas Midgley Jr, “, ”, Midgley, —, Ford, Gerald Markowitz, Colin Creitz, Charles Kettering, ” Markowitz, ” Midgley, Bill Kovarik, Midgley —, Kettering —, Freon, Joe Sohm, CFCs, Perkin, Priestley, Kettering, Willard Gibbs, Carl E, ” Kovarik, Markowitz, I’m Organizations: CNN, General Motors, City University of New, GM, Standard Oil, DuPont, Network, UNICEF, World Health Organization, Radford University, America, Montreal Protocol, International Association for Suicide Prevention, Befrienders, Society of Chemical Industry, American Chemical Society, National Academy of Sciences, TNT, Linde Locations: Beaver Falls , Pennsylvania, United States, City University of New York, Algeria, American, Dayton , Ohio, Virginia, Montreal, Chicago

☆ Elon Musk calls out Boeing's historic first crewed spaceflight, saying SpaceX beat them to the punch years ago
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-06 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

SpaceX beat Boeing to the punch, flying NASA astronauts to the space station four years ago for cheaper. NASA astronauts Suni Williams (left) and Butch Wilmore (right) conduct suited operations in a Boeing Starliner simulator. AdvertisementThe SpaceX Crew Dragon spaceship that accomplished the feat came from the same NASA initiative that's flying Starliner on Monday. NASA astronauts Bob Behnken (left) and Doug Hurley (right) were the first people to fly aboard a private spaceship, SpaceX's Crew Dragon. SpaceXWith each flight, SpaceX has earned money, while Boeing has been sinking more and more funds into Starliner.

Persons: Elon Musk, —, Boeing's, Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Robert Markowitz, Bob Behnken, Doug Hurley, bTXWAfxfrh — Elon, Musk, Eric Berger, Cory Huston, Starliner's, Berger, George Nield, Nield, Scrappy SpaceX Organizations: Boeing, SpaceX, NASA, Service, Twitter, International Space Station, ISS, Atlas, Reuters, Department of Defense, Space Transportation Locations: Starliner

☆ While Boeing's passenger planes glitch, NASA is entrusting the company's spaceship with 2 astronauts' lives
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-04 | by ( Morgan Mcfall-Johnsen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +10 min

Boeing is about to fly NASA astronauts to the International Space Station for the first time. Still, the FAA, NASA, and other aerospace experts have questioned Boeing's overall safety culture. NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams conduct suited operations in the Boeing Starliner simulator at NASA's Johnson Space Center. This Crew Flight Test mission is over a decade in the making. He added that those calculations are for a full 210-day mission, while Whilmore's and Williams's test flight lasts just one week.

Persons: —, NASA's Butch Wilmore, Suni Williams, Butch Wilmore, Robert Markowitz They're, jetliner, AeroSystems, Bill Nelson, Kim Shiflett, George Nield, Bjorn Fehrm, Fehrm, KPIs, Doug Loverro, Baz Ratner, Bill Ingalls, Steve Stich, Nield, We've, Wilmore, Starliner, Whitmore, Williams Organizations: Boeing, NASA, International Space Station, FAA, Service, Defense, Boeing's, International Space, Space Center, ISS, Max, NTSB, AP, Alaska Airlines, United Airlines, Federal Aviation Administration, Department of Justice, Atlas, Cape Canaveral Space Force, Space Transportation, New York Times, Leeham, Business, Ethiopian, Ethiopian Airlines, Aerospace, Committee, White, Bill Ingalls NASA, US, Spaceflight Locations: Portland, Florida, It's, New Mexico

☆ These surprise sources of income could cost you during tax season
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Darla Mercado | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Investors are celebrating a year of easy-to-obtain interest income, but the Tax Man will want his slice this spring. Institutions report interest income of $10 or more to their customers and the Internal Revenue Service on Form 1099-INT . For instance, you can be on the hook for an accuracy-related penalty of 20% of the underpayment of the tax. Interest income from these I bonds is subject to federal income tax, but investors don't receive it until they redeem the bond or it matures. "It might be worth it to buy the MLP and pay the tax," Kearns said.

Persons: Elizabeth Buffardi, Buffardi, you'll, Jerrod Pearce, Adam Markowitz, Brian Kearns, Kearns Organizations: Internal Revenue Service, IRS, CPA, Creative Planning, Luminary, CFP, Haddam, Advisors, MLP Locations: Oak Brook , Illinois, Overland Park , Kansas, Windermere , Florida, Evanston , Illinois

The requirement could raise wages by as much as $10,000 for Head Start teachers over the next seven years, the agency estimates. Head Start teacher turnover has doubled over the last decade, with the federal government estimating 1 out of every 5 Head Start teachers left their classroom last year. As many as 275,000 infants, toddlers and preschoolers are on waitlists nationwide, according to the National Head Start Association. Taxpayers spend about $12 billion for Head Start to serve roughly 1 million children. Daniel was “jumping up and down” when she read the administration's proposal to raise wages and add heartier benefits for Head Start staff.

Persons: Biden, Anna Markowitz, ”, That's, Renee Daniel, Daniel, we’re, ” Daniel, Katie Hamm, ” Hamm, Markowitz, “ It’s, ” Markowitz Organizations: WASHINGTON, Human Services, Start, University of California Los, Start Association, Taxpayers, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Community Action Agency, Head Start, Amazon, Human, UCLA Locations: University of California Los Angeles, Cincinnati

An eighteen-wheeler sat motionless at the intersection of 26th Street and Fourth Avenue in Brooklyn, completely blocking traffic in all directions. The New York City Marathon, a challenging 26.2-mile foot race that snakes across the city on the first Sunday in November each year, is the stage for some of the most remarkable athletes in the world. It is generally considered the largest marathon in the world, with almost 48,000 contestants last year. But they had no lost trucks to contend with, no red lights, yellow taxis or blue buses. On race day, like this Sunday, the course is cleared of traffic.

Persons: — Organizations: New York City Marathon Locations: Brooklyn, Staten Island, Central

☆ Where a Photographer’s Curiosity Became a Two-Year Commitment
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-18 | by ( John Otis | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Though he grew up just a few miles away, Jonah Markowitz, a photographer and documentarian based in Brooklyn, knew little about the neighborhood of Kensington before 2021. That’s when he noticed, in New York City data from the year before, that an outsize portion of applications for new business licenses came from the area that included Kensington. So he began to check out the neighborhood, which had been a hub of Bangladeshi life in the city since the 1970s. Mr. Markowitz expected to start a project about economic trends in an immigrant community. Instead, he spent almost two and a half years visiting the same corner in Kensington, working on a portrait of the quiet transformation of a New York City neighborhood.

Persons: Jonah Markowitz, Markowitz Organizations: Metro Locations: Brooklyn, Kensington, New York City

Ms. Hanif’s family history illustrates how Bangladeshi Kensington came to be. While the corner is often a male-dominated space, she and other Bangladeshi American women have carved out their own places there. Ms. Saeed wants to buy a house, but real estate in Kensington has become far too expensive. Ms. Saeed also faced opposition as she was growing up, from relatives on her mother’s side who frowned upon dance. With other public spaces so dominated by men, Ms. Ferdous sees it as vital that women gather to keep their traditions alive.

Persons: Shahana Hanif, Hanif’s, Hanif, Radhuni, Ms, Mir Hossain, Hossain, “, ”, Sala Miah, Rubel, Tarek Aziz, Uddin, Farojan Saeed, Syed Rehan, Saeed, Annie Ferdous, Ferdous, Eid, Mr, Mahmud Organizations: Young, City Council, Bangladesh Institute of Performing Arts, Bangladeshi Institute of Performing Arts, McDonald Locations: Kensington, Bangladesh, Pakistan, “, United States, America, Bengal, Noakhali, Chittagong, Sandwip, Brooklyn, East, South America, Colombia, Panama, Dhaka, Bangladeshi, Manhattan, East New York, Jackson Heights, Ozone, New York, Motiul, Philadelphia, Jessore District, Jamaica, Queens

☆ More taxpayers will receive tax forms from apps such as Venmo, PayPal for 2023. Here's how to avoid tax issues
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-23 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

As a result of the change, more taxpayers are likely to receive Form 1099-K, which reports third-party business payments to the IRS. Some lawmakers are pushing to increase the reporting threshold, so it could change further. However, regardless of the tax reporting threshold, it's important to remember P2P business payments have always been taxable, experts say. Here are some additional tips to consider before the reporting change in January. An accounting system may also make it easier to track business expenses, which may be deducted to reduce taxable income, Guarino said.

Persons: Tommy Lucas, Moisand Fitzgerald Tamayo, Lucas, It's, Jim Guarino, Baker Newman Noyes, Guarino, Adam Markowitz, I've, Markowitz Organizations: Getty, Taxpayers, PayPal, eBay, IRS Locations: Orlando , Florida, Woburn , Massachusetts, Windermere , Florida

☆ The manager behind an award-winning fund that's beaten 99% of peers over 5 years shares the investing strategy that's brought him so much success — and 6 ways he's investing now
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-19 | by ( James Faris | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

But instead of basking in the success and recognition he's received recently, Miller told Insider that he's most excited about the outside-the-box investing strategy that he's concocted. Become a champion investor by playing defense — and making these 6 movesThe investing strategy Miller uses is related to an old sports adage: offense sells tickets, but defense wins championships. The defensive component of Miller's fund is more sophisticated. Currently, Miller's fund is following this method by selling bond futures contracts, which is a hedge against higher interest rates. If Markowitz saw Miller's fund, he may be proud.

☆ A law firm accused one of its own attorneys of 'quiet quitting' in a lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-25 | by ( Stephanie Stacey | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Napoli Shkolnik, a law firm in New York, is suing one of its attorneys for "quiet quitting." The firm's complaint explicitly references the pandemic-era "trend" of "quiet quitting." The law firm wants to strike Palmore's compensation for her "period of her disloyalty" — meaning it wants her to return more than $400,000. Lucas Markowitz of Offit Kurman, for Napoli Shkolnik, told Abovethelaw.com that Palmore "misrepresented her skillset, experience and book of business to obtain a position with Napoli Shkolnik. She then directly competed with Napoli Shkolnik by leading her own law firm."

☆ How Public Money Goes to Support a Hasidic Village’s Private Schools
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-20 | by ( Jay Root | Jonah Markowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

For years, Kiryas Joel, a bustling village north of New York City, has run one of the most unusual public school districts in America. The village is almost entirely populated by Hasidic Jews, and the district was created to serve just one group: Hasidic children with disabilities. Most other children attend the community’s private religious schools, which stress the rigorous study of Jewish law and prayer but offer little instruction in secular subjects. Created a little over 30 years ago, the unique public school system immediately drew concerns that a school district created for members of a single faith could never separate itself from their religious institutions. Then, in 2009, New York auditors identified a glaring conflict of interest: Two of the school district’s board members had voted to use tens of millions of tax dollars to lease a building from a private religious school organization that they also helped run.

Persons: Kiryas Joel Locations: New York City, America, New York

☆ Why Some Hasidic Children Can’t Leave Failing Schools
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-12 | by ( Eliza Shapiro | Jonah Markowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Beatrice Weber wakes up most mornings afraid that her son’s Hasidic Jewish school is setting him up to fail. Her 10-year-old, Aaron, brims with curiosity, and has told his mother that he wants to work for NASA. But his school, like other Hasidic boys’ schools in New York, teaches only cursory English and math and little science or social studies. It focuses instead on imparting the values of the fervently religious Hasidic community, which speaks Yiddish rather than English and places the study of Jewish law and prayer above all else. Recently, Ms. Weber said, Aaron’s teacher told him that the planets revolve around the Earth.

Persons: Beatrice Weber, Aaron, Weber Organizations: NASA Locations: New York

☆ Canceled lectures, no grades: University of California students face chaotic finals as academic workers strike
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-09 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms | Alicia Victoria Lozano | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

LOS ANGELES — Hundreds of thousands of undergraduate students at the University of California face a chaotic finish to their fall term as a strike by academic workers grinds through its fourth week. It’s definitely a weird situation.”University of California academic workers walk the picket line at the University of California, Los Angeles, on Nov. 28. Some campuses, including UCLA, have pushed back deadlines for submitting grades because faculty members rely so heavily on teaching assistants to assess student performance. Alicia Victoria Lozano / NBC NewsHernandez, a freshman, said teaching assistants help him with assignments and show him how to better tackle complicated subjects. Teaching assistants are integral to UCLA's "cluster" program that gives first-year students an opportunity to immerse themselves in smaller learning groups led by faculty and teaching assistants, he said.

☆ IRS warns taxpayers about new $600 threshold for third-party payment reporting
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Kate Dore | Cfp | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

The IRS on Tuesday shared tips for the upcoming tax season — including a reminder about the new $600 threshold for receiving Form 1099-K for third-party payments. The change applies to payments from third-party networks, such as Venmo or PayPal, for transactions such as part-time work, side jobs or selling goods, according to the IRS. Before 2022, the federal Form 1099-K reporting threshold was for taxpayers with more than 200 transactions worth an aggregate above $20,000. However, Congress slashed the limit as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, and a single transaction over $600 may now trigger the form. More from Personal Finance:Biden administration extends payment pause on student loan debt'The stakes are high.'

☆ Nike scores critical win in sweeping gender discrimination lawsuit
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A judge has denied a motion to make a gender discrimination lawsuit against Nike a class action. Federal magistrate judge Jolie A. Russo denied a motion to convert the lawsuit into a class action late Tuesday. Nike and plaintiffs have 14 days to file written objections to the rulings, then another 14 days to respond to objections. The ruling to deny class certification also will be reviewed by another federal judge. In its motion against class certification, Nike's attorneys said they would move for summary judgment after the judge ruled on the motion for class certification, essentially meaning they'd ask a judge to decide the case.

☆ This move can trim or erase a tax bill if you had to sell stocks at a loss this year
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-07 | by ( Carmen Reinicke | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

That means many investors will have to sell assets at a loss, going against one of the most basic investing rules, to buy low and sell high. How tax loss harvesting works Investors who have sold assets at a loss this year from a brokerage account can use that to offset or even completely erase any capital gains taxes owed. If your losses exceed your capital gains or you didn't have any, you can deduct up to $3,000 of income from your federal tax bill. Evercore ISI in a Nov. 6 note made a list of such stocks that it sees as good buying opportunities if you sold a similar name for tax loss harvesting. Because of this, it may make sense to consult both a tax professional and a financial advisor to ensure you're using tax loss harvesting as efficiently as possible.

☆ Nike says it has made changes to improve its work culture. But employees are still making new discrimination complaints amid an ongoing lawsuit, lawyer says.
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-21 | by ( Matthew Kish | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

In 2018, current and former Nike workers filed a gender discrimination lawsuit against the company. Nike implemented a wave of changes after a gender discrimination lawsuit was filed in 2018. But the lawyer leading the case, Laura Salerno Owens, says complaints from Nike employees against the company continue to roll in. Salerno Owens has represented Nike employees in the past, and her firm could financially benefit from additional cases. She's the lead attorney in the aforementioned gender discrimination lawsuit, which seeks class-action status.

Eliza Shapiro is a reporter covering New York City education. She joined The Times in 2018 and grew up in New York, attending public and private schools in Manhattan and Brooklyn. @elizashapiro

Persons: Eliza Shapiro Organizations: Times Locations: New York City, New York, Manhattan, Brooklyn

To hear more audio stories from publications like The New York Times, download Audm for iPhone or Android. The Hasidic Jewish community has long operated one of New York’s largest private schools on its own terms, resisting any outside scrutiny of how its students are faring. But in 2019, the school, the Central United Talmudical Academy, agreed to give state standardized tests in reading and math to more than 1,000 students. Students at nearly a dozen other schools run by the Hasidic community recorded similarly dismal outcomes that year, a pattern that under ordinary circumstances would signal an education system in crisis. But where other schools might be struggling because of underfunding or mismanagement, these schools are different.

Organizations: New York Times, Central United Talmudical Academy

☆ Airline passengers with disabilities share their travel nightmares: Being forgotten on planes, receiving damaged wheelchairs, or facing life-threatening injuries
▼ + stars: | 2022-08-22 | by ( Lloyd Lee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Wheelchair users are caught in the chaos, risking lost or damaged wheelchairs or even life-threatening injuries. Similar incidents have occurred, in which wheelchair users developed serious infections from an injury sustained during or after a flight, Brown said. On July 26, the Department of Transportation released the Airline Passengers with Disabilities Bill of Rights, which outlines the ten fundamental rights of passengers with disabilities. Ansley added that it would also be ideal if wheelchair users could use their own wheelchair to fly. This could include carving a space at the beginning of the aircraft so that wheelchair users don't have to transfer to an aisle chair.

Also called managed portfolios, most robo-advisors use an algorithm to match customers with professionally designed portfolios. Some robo-advisors include the option to discuss your investments with a human financial planner, which can put worries over computer-managed investment accounts to rest. Here are seven top reasons why you might pick a robo-advisor to help you save for retirement. You'll answer questions about your age, investment goals, risk tolerance, and other factors that the algorithm needs to pick your ideal investment portfolio. Robo-advisors generally cost less than traditional advisorsMany traditional financial advisors charge based on assets under management.

Persons: —, Michael Anderson, Charles Schwab, SoFi, Harry Markowitz, Anderson, it's Organizations: Service, Maranatha Financial, Investments

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