Content for Wednesday, August 18
The Living Wage In Each State… See How Much Single People Need To Earn To Survive Around The Country
Residents of Washington, DC need to earn nearly $42,000 a year to meet their basic needs which is the highest in the country. The Living Wage Calculator estimates the minimum income necessary for a single person to meet their basic needs and stay above the poverty line, without additional help, in every state. Hawaii comes in just behind the nation's capital for the highest cost of living per person at $40,412 before taxes. On the opposite end of the spectrum is South Dakota where residents need to make just $26,225 to meet their basic needs.
Two in Three People Have Favorite Places to Sit at Home
Two-thirds of Americans are obsessive about one thing in particular in their homes, their spot on the couch. A new study finds that 66% admit to having unofficial assigned seating throughout their homes. People are so loyal to their favorite spots, that they’ll argue with another family member about sitting in their “spot” twice a month. Whether it’s at the kitchen table, dad’s recliner, or the family couch, 68% of respondents say they’re very passionate about their “spot.” The survey reveals that more than half of Americans would feel uncomfortable sitting anywhere else but their favorite spot. A quarter of participants add they’d politely claim the spot and ask them to move. On why people are attached to certain spots, 63% associate positive memories with particular areas or pieces of furniture in their home.
Nearly Half of Adults in America Have Tried Marijuana
According to Gallup’s new Consumption Habits poll, the percentage of U.S. adults who say they have tried marijuana is now at 49%. That’s the highest it’s ever been. For comparison, 50 years ago, that number was 4%. By 1977, it was 20%, 30% in 1985 and 40% in 2015. In this latest poll, 12%, say they "smoke marijuana.” The oldest Americans living today are much less likely to have tried marijuana, with just 19% saying they have done so. That compares with about half of millennials (51%), Generation Xers (49%) and baby boomers (50%). Younger Americans are more likely than older Americans to say they currently smoke marijuana. 20% of millennials smoke marijuana, compared with 11% of Gen Xers, and 9% of baby boomers.
Most Americans Would Give Up Alcohol, Junk Food And The Internet... For Their PETS
A majority of Americans would give up booze, junk food and the Internet for their pets. The pet brand Honest Paws surveyed over 1,000 American pet owners to see what they would be willing to sacrifice for their pet. They found 67% were willing to give up the Internet for a year while 70% said they would ditch their smartphone for 365-days for their pet. And 96% said they would rather give up all junk food and alcohol if it meant keeping their pet.
Woman Becomes A Single Mom At 36 After A Friend 'Offered' To Sleep With Her, No $tring$ Attached
A 36-year-old woman in Missouri chose to become a single mother after a male friend volunteered to sleep with her and be the biological father -- as long as he didn't have to take on any parental or financial responsibilities. The woman decided to become a mom by herself after a string of bad relationships left her convinced that she shouldn't wait for the right man to start a family. She was talking to her male friend about it and he offered to be her donor as long as he didn’t have to be a part of the child’s life. The woman is overjoyed to be a mom to her 12-week-old son. She added that she was happy with her unconventional route to motherhood.
School Bus Driver Shortage Has Districts Paying Parents to Drive their Own Kids to School
School bus driver shortages are causing schools to take extreme measures, including paying parents to drive their kids to school for the year. A school in Wilmington, Delaware has resorted to offering parents $700 to not use the school bus systemto get their kids to and from school. Pittsburgh Public Schools are experiencing a similar shortage of drivers, causing them to push back classes for two weeks. In Lorain County, Ohio, the Schools Superintendent said: ”I’m seeing things I’ve never seen before. Sometimes, if they’re really short-staffed — like if a bus driver calls out in the morning — schools are sending messages like, 'Sorry, we’re not going to be able to pick up kids today.’" Labor shortages have become commonplace since the pandemic. The school bus driver shortage is a part of this wider trend.
Travelers are Canceling Trips with COVID Numbers Rising Again
After a rebound in travel this summer, people are once again canceling plans for trips because of the number of COVID cases. In a recent survey, 27% of respondents said they postponed a trip and more than 54% said the Delta variant has made them less interested in traveling right now. An economist with the travel app Hopper says summer flight demand has flattened from pandemic highs, which is leading to lower prices. He said one aspect of travel is up: there's been a 33% increase in people buying cancelable tickets. Other potential passenger pitfalls are increased airline cancelations. In June and July, domestic air cancelations were above their 1% average. There were 10,000 cancelations in July alone. Spirit, American and other carriers are suffering from short staffing, bad weather and other issues. For all the people canceling plans, a sizable number still plan to stick to their trips. 26% of people say they plan to travel in October, according to a recent survey.
Hotels Try Out Fees For Using The Pool And Checking In Early
Hotels are now testing fees for using the pool and checking in early. One of the largest hotel owners in the US is testing these new fees at roughly a dozen of his company’s independent hotels. Guests can get an early check-in, but it costs about $20, and a similar fee applies to a late checkout. Use of the pool might be free on a Tuesday morning, but cost guests $25 on a Saturday afternoon. Gym use and breakfast also come with an additional charge. In exchange, these properties are lowering their nightly room rates by varying prices.
Viral TikTok Shows Amazon Truck Driving Off Highway to Get Out of a Traffic Jam
A woman was stuck in bumper-to-bumper traffic on a highway when she noticed an Amazon semi truck had literally driven off the road and was cutting through a stretch of grass to get to a smaller side road and out of the traffic. The video is going viral and it’s causing more grief for Amazon. Comments included: “This low key makes me sad cause that truck driver is probably legitimately stressed trying not to get fired.” “That next day delivery ain’t no joke.” Another user claimed they’ve “seen prime vehicles doing a lot of illegal stuff,” and expressed concern for the drivers. In a statement, an Amazon spokesperson said, “Safety is our top priority, and this does not reflect the high standards we have for our line haul partners who help transport customer packages.”
Daniel Craig Said He Doesn’t Plan On Leaving His Children An Inheritance, Called It “Quite Distasteful”
Daniel Craig doesn’t plan on leaving his money to his kids. The James Bond actor said, “I don’t want to leave great sums to the next generation. I think inheritance is quite distasteful. My philosophy is get rid of it or give it away before you go.” He added, “Isn’t there an old adage that if you die a rich person, you’ve failed?” Craig is reportedly worth $160 million and has two kids.
Today's AUDIO:
Topic Starters: Do you know someone who's bad at washing their hands?
Newlyweds Wear Wedding Gown And Tux For Entire Honeymoon
John Stamos And Kaley Cuoco Sing The 'Full House' Theme
Brett Favre Says Young Kids Shouldn't Play Tackle Football
Alex Rodriguez Talks About Break Up With Jennifer Lopez
Alex Rodriguez opened up about moving on after his relationship with Jennifer Lopez.
Alex Rodriguez is staying positive, and is focusing on his daughters.