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“Give me five minutes to explain taxes to you: The top marginal tax rate is currently 39.6 percent, which remember, is an altogether different thing from the effective tax rate that wealthy people end up actually paying after taking advantage of various tax loopholes. What does that even mean - a ‘marginal tax’ rate of 39.6 percent? Does it mean the average person pays 39.6% in taxes? No. Does it mean that the income earners in the top one percent pays 39.6% in taxes? NO! Here’s what a marginal tax rate of 39.6% means: First, as of 2013 the top tax rate for individuals currently doesn’t begin unless you earn $406,750 dollars. Actually, that tax rate doesn’t even take effect until you make $406,750 + $1 dollar. Got that part? That’s important. Here’s the tricky detail that most people miss: the 39.6% tax rate is only applicable on anything OVER $406,750 dollars. So if you made $406,752 dollars, then only two ($2) of those dollars will be taxed at the highest rate of 39.6%…and the other $406,750 is not. Of course, this does not take into account the numerous tax loopholes that I alluded to earlier. Thus, if the top marginal tax rate is 39.6 percent, then after using any number of tax loopholes, write offs and various other cheats, it’s entirely possible earn over $406,750 dollars per year and still pay even less in taxes than a working class American earning much less. SN: this applies only to people who do actual work for a paycheck. If, on the other hand, your primary income is from inheritance or stock investments and you pay all your bills off of that interest (aka “capital gains”), then your taxes work differently altogether (hint: they’re even lower). Take multi-billionaire Mitt Romney, for example. In 2010 he only paid an effective (real) tax rate of 13.9 percent, odds are that’s much lower than the tax rate you (or your parents) just paid. Here’s the last thing you should remember: Only one percent of Americans make $400,750 a year or higher. Stated differently, the top income tax rate effects around 3.5 million —out of 350,000,000 Americans. And that’s only on the dollars ABOVE $400,750. BOO HOO right? Approximately 3.5 million Americans might, maybe, perhaps *possibly* have to pay the top federal income tax rate…but only on anything above $406,750 dollars…and only if they refuse to take advantage of ridiculously huge tax loopholes so big you could fly a jumbo jet through them. THAT is what conservatives are crying about when they complain about the top tax rate. That’s it.”

— This is why whining about the top tax rate is a joke and Republicans are the party for the Greedy One Percent (and the deluded suckers “future millionaires“ who repeatedly vote for them)

Alloys: Electrum

A naturally occurring alloy of gold and silver (with traces of other metals such as platinum and copper), Electrum has been known about since ancient times and was referred to as pale gold or white gold by the ancient Greeks. Occasionally, in modern times, it is known as green gold. The name comes from the Greek word Elektron, meaning a metallic substance containing silver and gold.

Electrum is a pale yellow or yellow-white in color, and is typically harder and more durable than pure gold. As a naturally occurring alloy, the ratio of gold to silver can vary greatly - the name is mostly applied to compositions between 20-80% gold and 20-80% silver (by atomic weight).

While the properties vary depending on the composition, generally speaking, Electrum has a high reflectivity, good electrical and thermal conductivity, and is ductile and malleable, with decent corrosion resistance. 

Historically speaking, this alloy has been used in many coins, but, given the inexact proportions of gold and silver in different coins, it was difficult to set an exact value for Electrum currency and eventually the alloy fell out of use. Much of Electrum’s uses were similar to applications gold was used in, such as coatings, statues, and jewelry.

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Duckweed Helps Remove Contaminants from Lakes

Authored by Kenny Walter, Digital Reporter, R&D Magazine

Duckweed might hold the key to removing contaminants from ponds and other bodies of water that could be harvested into animal feed.

Researchers from South Dakota State University believe the small aquatic plant could be a viable option to help remove several contaminants from lakes, ponds and streams including phosphorus, nitrates, nitrites and heavy metals that eventually could be incorporated into animal feed.

Read more: https://www.rdmag.com/article/2017/11/duckweed-helps-remove-contaminants-lakes

Stay safe while marching today, everyone! 🕯️📢💪🏿 #MarchForOurLives #Right2Protest

Court Rules in Favour of Case Against Fluoride

Today we talk to Dr. Paul Connett of the Fluoride Action Network (fluoridealert.org) about Food & Water Watch Inc., et al. v. United States Environmental Protection Agency, a lawsuit that could bring an end to the practice of water fluoridation in the United States. We discuss the Toxic Substances Control Act under which the suit is being filed, how recent court rulings have allowed the case to…

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