Category Archives: Golden Rule

Youve probably heard it said many times: The end justifies the means. I want to suggest the statement is both ethically and practically wrong.

First, who decides whether the end is morally right? You might have an immoral end that no means will justify.

Consider the current end that Russian President Vladimir Putin has in mind as he conducts a war against not only military but civilian targets. He wants to recapture land that might once have been within the Russian union, but in aiming for this goal Russia ends up killing thousands of Ukrainians and hurting Russia on the international scene. The end doe not justify the means.

Second, practically speaking, the ends and means are related, not separate actions. If your goal or end is morally justified, then so too must the means to get there be ethical. You cannot justify using immoral means to reach what you consider a moral goal.

For example, you cannot protect democracy by using immoral means to do so, such as rigging election outcomes through gerrymandering or making voting more difficult for those who might vote differently than you wish. The means are basically anti-democratic, denying the principle of majority rule.

I heard someone today who argued that he didnt vote for someone solely on one issue, in this case it was bringing about a U.S. Supreme Court majority that would outlaw abortion That was his sole goal or end. Or, as he put it, I didnt vote to put a pastor in office. But he did put in office someone who would do more than simply appoint justices to the Supreme Court but take other actions that might endanger democracy itself.

The issue of whether the end justifies the means can be looked at from a different vantage point, that of two traditional philosophical schools.

One great ethical school is associated with the philosopher Immanuel Kant, one of the last to believe in universal ethics. His principle was called the categorical imperative, and it meant you were to treat everyone as an end and not a means to an end, a variation of the Golden Rule. There are some imperatives that are universal, Kant argued, such as not lying or not stealing. Measure the means and ends by this imperative dont harm others, adopt a goal that will be good for everyone, not just a few.

Another great school was called consequentialism, from the British philosopher John Stuart Mill. Here ethical behavior was measure by its results.The basic principle was to seek the greatest good for the greatest number, often used when trying to invest limited resources to meet major needs you put the money where the most people will benefit.

Taken together, these two moral principles would suggest that to be ethically right, actions are measured by what the actors intended and what were the results. Its another way of looking at means (intentions) and results (ends).

I was thinking about the ends and means argument recently as I heard a preacher saying he overlooked a candidates ethics because he knew this person wanted to ban abortion, and that was all he cared about. It didnt matter that this candidate was reported to have paid for abortions for his girlfriend. The ends and means were in opposition to one another. No wonder voters are struck by the hypocrisy.

So, heres the conclusion. The end, if morally good, must be reached by ethical means. You cannot separate one from the other.

John C. Morgan is a teacher and writer whose weekly columns appear at http://www.readingeaglc.com

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Everyday ethics: Do the ends justify the means? - Reading Eagle

The FIFA World Cup is finally back this year, and were heading to the Middle Eastern country of Qatar to experience all the action. The worlds best footballing nations are going head to head this year as they take each other on for the biggest prize in the sport. You cant afford to miss any of the action this year, so youre probably on the lookout for some great World Cup live streams.

The main problem that football fans are facing this year is that subscribing to streaming services can be pricey. On top of that, you also cant access these live streams when youre traveling abroad or moving to a different country because of geo-blocking restrictions. Luckily though, there is a way that you can find free World Cup live streams for this years event in Qatar.

Before you head over to free live streaming suites though its important to ensure that your device is always protected. All you need to do is install a handy cybersecurity tool on your device and youll be good to go. This very same tool can even help you to bypass geo-blocking, so if youre subscribed to a premium streaming service for this years World Cup, its a win-win situation! Keep reading to learn more about free World Cup live streams, and the essential tool you need to access them.

Media companies need to pay millions of dollars to secure the broadcasting rights that allow their customers to live stream FIFA World Cup matches. With such a big investment on the line, its no wonder they charge such pricey subscription fees! Along with the broadcasting rights come a strict set of rules that they also need to follow.

One of these rules will determine where they are allowed to broadcast and stream the World Cup matches. These specific regions are strict, and if anyone tries to access the live stream from outside the region, they will simply be blocked from accessing the stream this is known as geo-blocking.

Streaming websites will use your IP address to determine your devices physical location. An IP address is a unique string of numbers that is used to identify your device on the internet. One of its main purposes is to pinpoint your physical location and provide that information to any website that you visit so that they can send you targeted ads based on businesses close to your location.

But, you can watch the FIFA World Cup this year without paying a cent for your live stream too. There are some free sports live-streaming sites out there, but the only disclaimer with these is that the websites do not host live streams. This means that you cant be sure of the true source of the live streams youre watching they could be unsecured or unlisted which could put your device or your data at risk.

But, as long as you have a handy cybersecurity tool installed on your device, theres no need to worry about either of these problems. The tool you need is a virtual private network, better known as a VPN.

The main purpose of a VPN is to encrypt your internet connection, which will prevent anyone else from seeing what you are doing on your device while browsing the internet. It will also stop any hackers from snooping through your files and data. Its important to suit up with a VPN before you venture into any free sports live-streaming websites!

VPNs also allow you to connect to secure global servers in other countries and cities around the world. In doing so, your real IP address will be hidden, and your device will adopt the IP address of the server that you have connected to. This will trick websites into thinking that you are accessing them from elsewhere. Now you can bypass geo-blocking simply by connecting to a server in another country using your VPN!

Not all VPNs are created equally though, and its important to make sure that the VPN you choose will be well suited to live streaming. There is one golden rule you need to follow at all times when choosing a VPN always choose a premium VPN.

It might be tempting to choose a free VPN with your free live streams, but ultimately it wont be worth it because it will impact your streaming experience. Using a free VPN can have several drawbacks such as slower connection speeds, more ads, less security, fewer global servers to choose from, and daily data limits. All of these factors will affect your streaming experience, and chances are, you will miss some of the exciting football action!

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Heres How to Watch the World Cup for Free - CLNS Media

Ayurvedic cooking involves creating dishes that are seasonal, fresh and fit what the body needs at the time. (Photo: Rachel Vanni)

A way of eating that goes back more than 3,000 years is no fad diet. That's how long Ayurveda, an ancient holistic approach to health that originated in India, has been around. Ayurveda means "knowledge of life" and is based on the belief that disease is caused stress. Practitioners believe an Ayurvedic cooking style can be used both to prevent disease and treat it.

Ayurveda isn't just a way of eating, it's a way of life. However, a key part of an Ayurvedic lifestyle is eating the right types of food at the right time and in appropriate portions. Unlike other approaches to eating that may require counting calories or tracking protein, Ayurveda does not have a one-size-fits-all approach.

The goal of Ayurveda is to feel balanced in mind and body. That means an Ayurvedic diet is highly dependent upon what each individual needs to achieve balance at any given moment. What someone might need to feel balanced in the morning may be something the same person should avoid in the evening. And, what helps someone achieve balance in the cold, dark winter months will probably be very different than what they need to feel balanced on long, sunny summer days.

Chef Divya Alter owns Divya's Kitchen, the first Ayurvedic restaurant in New York City, and has written two cookbooks based on Ayurvedic principles. (Photo: Rachel Vanni)

Ayurvedic chef, Divya Alter, didn't grow up with an Ayurvedic lifestyle. As a child, she lived under Communist rule in Bulgaria with limited access to world cuisine and culture. Alter says she didn't even have olive oil to cook with until she was a teenager.

When she was 17, she found an underground ashram (an Indian monastery). It was there she had her first Indian meal with sumptuous spices that were new to her. Alter interned at the ashram, working in the kitchen and learning how to cook vegetarian meals. She then moved to India to study yoga, continuing to learn to cook along the way. "It's part of Indian culture to cook every day, every meal and there were no cookbooks then," she tells Yahoo Life.

Today, Alter owns Divya's Kitchen, the first Ayurvedic restaurant in New York City, and has written two cookbooks based on Ayurvedic principles. Her latest, Joy of Balance, was inspired in part by the suffering she saw in New York City and around the world at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. When friends who were sick called Alter for advice, she recommended foods like turmeric broth and immune-boosting tea. Alter believes her friends got better with her help, leading her to include these recipes are in her new cookbook.

Story continues

Alter notes that during the pandemic lockdown a lot of people slowed down, thought about how they wanted to change their lives to be happier and started focusing more on their health. But many people don't know how to be healthier. Alter hopes to fill that gap. "Making Ayurvedic food accessible is my mission in life," she says. "I want to help people feel better."

Although Ayurveda is a complex system of wellness and healing, Alter says no one needs to learn the entire science to start following an Ayurvedic way of eating, just the main principles.

What to eat and when to eat it to achieve balance becomes intuitive very quickly. Anyone who wants to eat using Ayurvedic principles should remember a "golden rule" of Ayurveda: opposites attract when deciding what to eat.

For example, on a blistering hot summer day, it's natural to choose something cooling, like a glass of coconut water or zucchini, to achieve balance. On a cold, rainy day, a spicy food will help warm you up. A root vegetable, like carrots, is also a good choice on cold days because they're heavy and take a long time to digest, which warms up the metabolic system.

Because Ayurveda's focus is on food that fully nourishes the mind and body, it can be applied to any type of cuisine. The menu at Divya's Kitchen includes Italian-inspired lasagna and risotto, Asian-inspired stir-fry and soup and American-inspired soul food like buttermilk biscuits and sauted leafy greens. Even sweets aren't off limits: Joy of Balance includes recipes for fudge, cookies and cake.

Alter says keeping the golden rule about balance in mind is key, focusing on what makes you feel good, both now and for the long term, whether you're eating Mexican, Indian or Japanese cuisine.

With an Ayurvedic approach to eating, the goal is to feel full and satisfied without feeling heavy and sluggish. As a general rule, start with a portion that's double the amount that fits in both palms. A tall man, for example, will have a much larger portion size than a child.

At the end of an Ayurvedic meal, the stomach should be about half full of solids, one-fourth full of liquids, like drinks or soup, and one-fourth empty to allow food to churn in the stomach.

Because Ayurveda is a way of life and not a diet, what to eat depends on what you need to achieve balance at any given time. (Photo: Rachel Vanni)

However, since the true key to determining the correct portion size is feeling full, it's important to pay attention to your body. A teenager going through a growth spurt may need a much larger portion while someone feeling ill, or just not very hungry, may feel full with a smaller portion.

"You know you are doing it right if you feel full but energized," Alter says. "You should feel really good after a meal." She cautions that many are tempted to eat more if the food is very good, but even in her restaurant she discourages overeating because it will lead to discomfort later.

Because Ayurveda is a way of life, what to eat depends on what you need to achieve balance at any given time. The modern approach to Ayurveda involves eating whole foods, often organic. An Ayurvedic diet can be vegan or include dairy.

What to eat is highly dependent on what you need to feel balanced at any particular moment. The answer to what to eat, Alter says, is always "it depends." According to Alter, "there is no good or bad food," when it comes to natural, whole foods. The question to ask before deciding what to eat is What is good for me at this time?

For instance, many people need a pick-me-up in the morning to feel balanced. Coffee is a popular choice not only because it contains caffeine but because it is slightly bitter and bitter tastes, "help you get going," according to Alter. However, if you wake up feeling energetic and completely refreshed, you probably don't need coffee or a bitter taste to feel balanced. At night, Alter recommends avoiding stimulating foods if you want to feel calm and soothed: A simple kitchari (an Ayurvedic dish made of beans, rice and spices) that is light and soothing might be a balancing dinner choice.

You don't have to be a purist to follow an Ayurvedic way of eating. Alter admits that, "we all cheat," adding that younger, healthier people may be able to cheat a bit more than someone older with health concerns. She compares the body to a machine saying, "If you don't give it the right kind of fuel it will break down faster."

Want to try an Ayurvedic dish at home? Alter shares her recipe for Walnut-Orange Cake with Honey Syrup.

Courtesy of Divya Alter

"This recipe is my version of a sugar-free, dairy-free, wholesome pastry," says Alter, "and once you taste it, it might make you want another piece ... or two."

(Photo: Rachel Vanni)

Makes one 8-inch square or round cake.

cup (88 grams) chopped (-inch pieces) dried apricots

cup boiling hot water

cup olive oil, plus more for greasing the baking dish

2 cups (218 grams) sifted einkorn flour or 1 cups (220 grams) sifted spelt flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

teaspoon ground cloves

teaspoon baking soda

teaspoon fine lime zest

teaspoon salt

cup fresh orange juice, from 2 to 3 oranges (before squeezing the oranges, zest their peel for the garnish)

1 cup (113 grams) coarsely chopped walnuts

Peel of orange, thinly sliced

1 cinnamon stick (2 inches long)

2 dried apricots, chopped

cup raw honey

cup fresh orange juice (strained for pulp)

1 tablespoon fresh lime juice (strained for pulp)

teaspoon vanilla extract.

1. Put the chopped apricots in a blender and pour the boiling water over them. Let them sit for 15 minutes to hydrate. Blend to a smooth puree.

2. Preheat the oven to 350 F. Grease an 8-inch round or square baking dish (a glass Pyrex dish works well) with olive oil.

3. While the apricots are soaking, in a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, cloves, baking soda, lime zest and salt.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the apricot puree, olive oil and orange juice.

5. Add the wet mixture to the dry mixture and stir a few times, until the sticky batter is well incorporated. Fold in the walnuts.

6. Transfer the batter to the greased baking dish. Bake for about 30 minutes, until a toothpick or skewer inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean. While the cake is baking, prepare the syrup and garnishes. Let the cake completely cool off in the baking dish before transferring it to a cutting board or a serving platter. You may also leave it in the baking dish.

1. In a small saucepan, combine cup water, the orange peel, cinnamon stick and apricots, and bring to a boil over high heat; lower the heat and simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.

2. Remove the orange peel and cinnamon stick, and let the cooked apricots cool down to a warm temperature (not higher than 120 F). Transfer to a blender and blend to a smooth, slightly thick consistency. (If there are any little pieces of fruit left, strain them away.)

3. Pour the blended mixture into a small bowl and whisk in the honey, orange juice, lime juice and vanilla.

1. Cut the cake into triangle-, square- or diamond-shaped pieces of your desired size.

2. Gradually pour the syrup over the cake, making sure to moisten each of the crevices, edges and corners.

3. Garnish the cake with shaved walnuts and thin curls of orange peel. Serve within 2 hours.

Notes: If you're not going to serve all the cake pieces at once, pour the syrup and add the garnishes to only the number of pieces you want to serve right now. Refrigerate the rest of the syrup and garnishes until your next serving. Store the remaining cake covered, at room temperature.

To shave the toasted walnuts for garnish, use halved walnuts and grate them on the small holes of a grater.

To make orange peel curls, use a zester or a julienne peeler to peel off thin strips of orange peel, then soak the strips in a cold-water bath and freeze until you're ready to use them. (It takes at least 45 minutes for the peels to curl).

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What is Ayurvedic cooking? Learn more about the balanced way of eating, designed to keep followers 'full but energized.' - Yahoo Life

When their 5-year-old son refused to get on the school bus, Eduardo and Stephanie of Mount Airy, North Carolina, were stumped. They later learned that a boy much bigger than him had been calling him names due to his race and size. Their son was being bullied.

We had to help him cope with the situation, said Eduardo. In the meantime, we decided it was best to drive him to school ourselves.

As millions of children head back to school this year, more than one in five of them will have a similar experience, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. And in a national study by the Cyberbullying Research Center, nearly 21% of tweens said they had been a target, aggressor or witness to bullying online or by other electronic means.

As parents search for ways to protect their children, a growing group of families are turning to an unlikely source for practical guidance: the Bible.

Eduardo and Stephanie talked with their two school-aged children about helpful scriptural principles they learned through their faith as Jehovahs Witnesses. We have regular conversations as a family, Eduardo said. We analyze Bible lessons that teach them to respect their peers and teachers, and how to be brave when necessary.

They also went to jw.org, the Witnesses official website, where a search for the term bullying brought up a wealth of free resources including videos, articles, worksheets and other online activities on topics young people face at school. Those resources include a whiteboard animation entitled, Beat a Bully Without Using Your Fists and an animated cartoon about the powerful effect of prayer for those who are being bullied.

Eduardo and Stephanies son decided to try and win over bullies with kindness.

Madison Bechtle of Clifton, New Jersey, also turned to the Scriptures when a cyberbully started harassing her in the eighth grade with dozens of disturbing notifications on her cell phone. It was really crazy. He was sending me pictures of my house. I was really paranoid all the time, she said.

Reading the Bible and praying calmed her anxiety. Its just you and God, and youre just talking one-on-one, she said. Its very comforting, and it works.

She also followed the practical steps outlined in the jw.org whiteboard animation Be Social-Network Smart to protect herself. She told her parents and teachers about the situation and deleted the social media account her bully had targeted. I still dont have that account to this day, said Madison, now 21.

Not every situation resolves so easily. But applying the Bibles advice and focusing on the big picture can help individuals cope and maintain their sense of self-worth, said Robert Hendriks, U.S. spokesperson for Jehovahs Witnesses.

The Bible has proven to be a practical resource for many families to navigate difficult situations in life, said Hendriks. The principles found in this ancient book can help adults and children resolve conflict and maintain peaceful relationships with others.

Principles like the so-called Golden Rule of treating others as youd want to be treated, showing love and being slow to anger are tools Eduardo said help his family in many circumstances. My children can go to school without fear, knowing that they can face situations that schoolchildren face on a daily basis and, when needed, take the appropriate measures so that they do not suffer the effects of bullying.

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North Carolina family finds solution to bullying from surprising source - The Richmond Observer

Most likely, you are already fully aware of any public smoking restrictions. Numerous smoke-free rules and laws have been adopted. It was thought that a ban on smoking in public places would help to decrease the number of smokers and the overall adverse effects of smoking.

However, the world is dynamic and constantly evolving. Every year, the use of electronic cigarettes becomes more widespread. Vaping began in China and has since expanded to Europe and other nations.

Vapers who want to attend a festival with a vaporizer should be aware of the regulations to comply with the law because different countries laws handle vaping differently. In this article, you will discover a little about the rules governing festivals and e-cigarettes in several nations.

United Kingdom

In the opinion of the Public Health Service of England, the best dab pens are less dangerous than traditional cigarettes. However, when attending a festival in the UK, keep in mind that there is a limit on the amount of nicotine in vaping liquids for users; it should not be higher than 2%.

United States

Although vaping is allowed in the US, many health professionals compare the health concerns of e-cigarettes to those of tobacco products. Remember that each state in the US restricts vaping when attending a festival. The majority forbid vaping in areas where there are other persons present. Therefore, it is crucial to research each states legislation in advance.

Thailand

Vaping is not permitted in this country according to law. Nevertheless, the statutes make no mention of the dab pen specifically. The sale, import, or production of vaping products is prohibited. However, it is unlikely that your e-cigarette will be considered an illegal import if you bring it to a festival.

Compared to other nations, the rules that forbid vaping are a little less strict. The best they can do is admonish you in writing and seize your electronic equipment. Vaping is technically illegal in Thailand, so you do it at risk.

Austria

Wax vaporizer users should consider Austria. Vaping is not expressly forbidden in festivals by law. However, it would be best if you remembered that local retailers could not legally sell liquids, including nicotine.

Germany

It is an excellent nation with beautiful scenery, a unique culture, and delectable cuisine. Every festival goer can enjoy e-cigarettes because there are no strict rules in this area. Here, vaping is legal, even for kids.

South Africa

Travelers to South Africa will not have any issues regarding vaping. However, keep in mind that soon, health authorities will seek to outlaw or restrict the use of e-cigarettes.

If you abide by the piece mentioned above of advice, you can be confident that you will not have any issues during festivals in other countries.

However, it is strongly advised always to verify the regulations to ensure your safety as the world is constantly changing. Therefore, venue owners and event organizers must make sure they abide by the strict laws and restrictions governing smoking in public that are in place in the majority of European and North American countries.

The pot laws are either less strict or not enforced in South America, Asia, and Africa. Although there are reasonable grounds for authorities to discourage cigarette smoking in public places, the main one is to limit the appearance of second-hand smoke, which can harm those who work in concert venues.

Specified Locations

While a significant portion of festival attendees still smoke, several organizers have decided to designate smoking sections in addition to other areas with a strict no-smoking policy. In addition, many festivals establish no-smoking zones near campsites that cater to families or regions with childcare and other amenities for kids. Any festival smokers should read the events FAQs to learn more about their policies, as some events have made smoking entirely prohibited.

Vaping and Smoking Cigarettes Are Two Distinct Ideas

Vaping is not the same as smoking traditional cigarettes containing tobacco. Every day, the general public is becoming more aware of the distinction. However, that does not mean that non-vapers do not desire to indulge in a flavorsome vapor while taking in their favorite outdoor concert or event.

Even though your preferred dessert-flavored e-liquid makes you squeal with delight, there will probably be those who do not want to be enveloped in your massive cloud of vapor. We cannot blame those people, though. Respecting those around you is the golden rule regarding vaping and outdoor activities. Avoid vaporizing while waiting in line or in a crowded environment.

If you enjoy vaping with high-glycerin juice, keep in mind that your wax pen can produce a lot of vapor while deciding where to do so at these events. It is always possible that event organizers will forbid vaping in the future if vapers do not observe good vaping etiquette. When vaping outside, be kind and considerate to people around you.

Getting Ready for Vaping

Depending on how far and long you will be away from home, you must be ready to vape during festivals. A brand-new, liquid-filled e-cigarette and an ultimately charged battery will work for local, same-day activities.

A charger is helpful if you want to prevent returning home with a dead e-cigarette battery. Stocking up is worthwhile for more extended events. Ensure you have plenty of yummy liquid, extra batteries or a charger, fresh cartridges, coils, or vaporizers, and tools for replacing the locks and wipes to remove excess fluid while refilling.

Vaping ought to be adequate. Consider wearing a lanyard or other accessory when vaping during the festival, for example. You can do this to keep your wax vape pen close at hand. You wont have to be concerned about losing it if you sit on it, drop it, or any other scenario.

Always confirm whether vaping is permitted at the festival you intend to attend. It would be best if you kept in mind that there are people nearby.

If you are unsure, ask your neighbors if they object if you vape. By doing this, you will enjoy vaping while taking in the event and the scenery, open doors for other vapers, and foster a positive perception of vapers, which could eventually encourage more smokers to switch.

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Is It Allowed to Vape on Music Festivals? - Rave Jungle

Knowing how tax deductions work will help you answer that question.

Maurie Backman| The Motley Fool

While it doesnt influence our opinions of products, we may receive compensation from partners whose offers appear here. Were on your side, always. See our full advertiser disclosure.

The U.S. tax code is constantly evolving. And tax code changes are often a big topic of debate, especially when it comes to benefits that are said to primarily benefit the wealthy.

In fact, the tax code is loaded with potential deductions that some critics say only help the rich. But is that really true?

It's easy to see why some people think tax deductions are more beneficial to the wealthy. A tax deduction exempts a portion of your income from taxes. Simply put, if you claim a $1,000 deduction, the IRS won't tax you on $1,000 of earnings. But the amount of savings that amounts to will depend on how much you earn.

Taxes operate under a marginal system that has your highest dollars of earnings taxed at a higher rate than your lowest dollars of earnings. As such, someone who's a higher earner is apt to land in a higher tax bracket than a lower earner. And a tax deduction might then be worth more to that higher earner.

Let's go back to our example of a $1,000 tax deduction. If you're not such a high earner and therefore fall into the 12% tax bracket, a $1,000 tax deduction will result in $120 of savings for you. If you're a very high earner and fall into the 37% tax bracket (the highest one there is), that $1,000 deduction will result in $370 of tax savings. So in this case, the higher earner gets roughly three times the tax break.

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Can the government make filing taxes online easier: A free IRS-run system is being studied.

But while tax deductions might favor the rich to some degree, that doesn't mean the tax code is blatantly skewed that way. In fact, there are a number of tax breaks that higher earners can't benefit from.

Last year, the Child Tax Credit got a huge boost as part of the massive stimulus bill that was signed in early 2021. But to qualify for the credit in full, you needed an income of $75,000 or less as a single tax-filer or $150,000 or less as a married couple filing jointly. Once your earnings exceeded that threshold, your credit phased out.

Similarly, there's a credit called the Lifetime Learning Credit that filers can claim against education costs. But you can't claim the credit if your income is $69,000 or more as a single tax-filer, or $138,000 or more as a joint filer.

Therefore, while tax deductions might offer more financial benefits to higher earners, those same earners often lose out on valuable tax credits that could reduce their IRS liability even more. A tax credit is a dollar-for-dollar reduction of your tax liability. And so if you're eligible for a $1,000 tax credit, you automatically pay the IRS $1,000 less, regardless of what tax bracket you fall into. That's a big perk to lose out on.

All told, it's easy to see why the tax code seems to favor the wealthy. But the wealthy do lose out on certain benefits, and it's only fair to acknowledge that. And while some higher earners ultimately see higher tax refunds hit their bank accounts than lower earners, that's definitely not the case universally.

We're firm believers in the Golden Rule, which is why editorial opinions are ours alone and have not been previously reviewed, approved, or endorsed by included advertisers. The Ascent does not cover all offers on the market. Editorial content from The Ascent is separate from The Motley Fool editorial content and is created by a different analyst team. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The Motley Fool is a USA TODAY content partner offering financial news, analysis and commentary designed to help people take control of their financial lives. Its content is produced independently of USA TODAY.

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Are tax breaks only for the rich? How deductions can work for you, too - USA TODAY

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A new Taylor Swift album is stiff competition, but that hasnt discouraged many others from releasing new titles this week -- including the likes of Arctic Monkeys, Carly Rae Jepsen, Stone Temple Pilots Robert DeLeo, Tegan and Sara, Simple Minds and more (all subject to change)...

Album of the Week: Taylor Swift does not quit. This weeks Midnights (Republic) is her sixth release of the past three years -- although two of those were re-recordings of previous albums Fearless and Red. Midnights -- which Swift describes as the stories of 13 sleepless nights scattered throughout my life -- is the formal follow-up to 2020s Evermore, again co-produced with Jack Antonoff and features Lana Del Rey on the track Snow on the Beach. Lenny Kravitzs daugther Zoe and Swifts boyfriend Joe Alwyn also co-wrote songs. Better listen right away, cause who knows how quickly the next one will come along.

Album Title of the Week: Ugly Kid Joe, Rad Wings of Destiny (Metalville)

Did Ya Know?: A couple of acts end long waits for new album releases this week. A-has True North (Swinglong Ltd./RCA) is the Norwegian trios first since 2015, while North Carolina rockers Archers of Loaf took 24 years leading up to Reason in Decline (Merge).

New & Noteworthy:

Arctic Monkeys, The Car (Domino)

Babyface, Girls Night Out (Capitol)

Black Veil Brides, The Mourning (Sumerian)

David Broza Sings Leonard Cohen (Broza)

Robert DeLeo, Lessons Learned (self-released)

(G)I-DLE, I Love (CUBE Entertainment)

Robyn Hitchcock, Shufflemania (Tiny Ghost)

Carly Rae Jepsen, The Loneliest Time (604/Schoolboy/Interscope)

The Manhattan Transfer, Fifty (Craft/Concord)

Terre Roche, Kin Ya See That Sun (self-released)

Simple Minds, Direction of the Heart (BMG)

Tegan and Sara, Crybaby (Mom+Pop Music)

Meghan Trainor, Takin It Back (Epic)

Young The Giant, American Bollywood (AWAL/Jungle Youth)

Hot New Singles: Air Traffic Controller, 20; Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness, Skywriting; The Arcs, Keep on Dreamin; Bronze Avery, Over (And Over); Frank Carter & the Rattlesnakes, The Drugs featuring Jamie T; The Cynz, Narrow Hips; deadmau5 and Kaskade, Alive featuring The Moth & the Flame; Envy, Seimi; Luke Evans, Come What May featuring Charlotte Church; The Fierce and the Dead, Photogenic Love; Gojira, Our Time is Now; Itzy, Boys Like You; Don Letts, Outta Sync; Lil Yachty, Poland; Awin, In Between; Tommy Marz, Human Kind; Chase Rice, Way Down Yonder; Rival Sons, Nobody Wants to Die; Annika Rose, Bruises; Seven Purple Tigers, Smoke Communique; Shakira, Monotonia featuring Ozuna; Sicard Hollow, Forecast of Life; The 69 Eyes, Gotta Rock; Louis Tomlinson, Out of My System; Raffles Van Excel, Why Oh Why featuring Cee-Lo Green and Fantasia; Tom Walker, The Best is Yet to Come;

Also Out:

Abduction, Black Blood (Candlelight)

Architects, The Classic Symptoms of a Broken Spirit (Epitaph)

Atta Boy, Crab Park (self-released)

Batida, Neon Colonialismo (Crammed Discs)

Bayli, Stories 2 (self-releaed)

Bayside, The Red EP (Hopeless)

Teri Gender Bender, Saturn Sex (Clouds Hill)

Birds In Row, Gris Klein (Red Creek)

Black Ledd, Heavy Metal Fans (Melodic Passion)

Alice Bowman, The Space Between ([Pias])

Brutus, Unison Life (Sargeant House)

Christine and the Queens, Redcar les adorables etoiles (Gold Atlas)

Frankie Cosmos, Inner World Peace (Sub Pop)

Cylo-Sonic, Everything Went Stupid (Big Neck)

Anthony DAmato, At First There Was Nothing (Blue Rose)

Def., abandoned love (CDNZA)

Grant Dermody, Behind the Sun (self-released)

Dry Cleaning, Stumpwork (4AD)

Exhumed, To the Dead (Relapse)

Florence and the Machine, Dance Fever (Live at Madison Square Garden (Polydor)

Kenny Foster, Somewhere in Middle America (self-released)

Fly Magic, Givers & Takers (Berthold Records)

Evgueni Galperine, Theory of Becoming (ECM New Series)

Sara Gazarek, Vanity (self-released)

GOAT, Oh Death (Rocket Recordings)

Grand, Grand (Frontiers)

Nick Hakim, Cometa (ATO)

Jesse Harris, Silver Balloon (Secret Sun Recordings)

John Hoyer & Soul Colossal, Green Light (self-released)

In This Moment, Blood 1983 (BMG)

Inclination, Unaltered Perspective (Pure Noise)

Rebecca Jade, A Shade of Jade (self-released)

Jean-Michel Jarred, Oxymore (Music After Entertainment/Sony)

Jeremiah Johnson, Hi-Fi Drive By (Ruf)

Chez Kane, Powerzone (Frontiers)

Kuri, I Love You, Youre Welcome (Nevado Music)

Ashley Kutcher, Survive My Own Mind (Darkroom/Interscope)

Benjamin Lackner, Last Decade (ECM)

Le Sserafim, Antifragile (Source Music/HYBE)

Lovertown, I Love to Lie (Dirty Hit)

Adam Melchor, Here Goes Nothing (Warner)

Dennis Mitcheltree, Golden Rule (Dengor Music)

Moon Walker, The Attack of Mirrors (self-released)

Kylie Morgan, Songs to Say I Do (EMI Nashville)

My Morning Jacket, MMJ Live Vol. 2: Chicago 2021 and Live From RCA Studio A (Acoustic) (ATO Records)

The New Roses, Sweet Poison (Napalm)

O.R.K., Screamnasium (Kscope)

Marco Pignataro, Chant For Our Planet (Zoho)

N. Flying, Dearest (FNC Entertainment)

Pinkshift, Love Me Forever (Hopeless)

Uji, Timebeing (ZZK)

Rattlesnake Venom Trip, Dead Empire (self-released)

Robohands, Giallo (Bastard Jazz)

Ruby the Hatchet, Fear is a Cruel Master (Magnetic Eye)

Sahg, Born Demon (Drakkar Entertainment)

Michael Sarian, Living at the End of the World (Ears and Eyes)

Sloan, Steady (Yep Rock)

Miriam K. Smith, Momentum (Azica)

The Soft Pink Truth, Is It Going to Get Any Deeper Than This? (Thrill Jockey)

Jesse Jo Stark, Doomed (self-released)

Strange Heart, Falling Back Again (self-released)

Stryper, The Final Battle (Frontiers)

Serj Tankian, Perplex Cities (Serjical Strike)

Hagop Tchaparian, Bolts (Text)

Witmer Thomas, The Older I Get the Funnier I Was (Hardly Art)

Titus, Damned If I Do (Soundcloud)

Too Much Joy, All These...Feelings (Propeller Sound Recordings)

Twain, Noon (Keeled Scales)

Various Artists, Its Still About Time (Seeker)

Vitreous Humor, Vitreous Humor (Ernest Jenning Record Co.)

Andrea Von Kampen, A Chance Encounter: An Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (Fantasy)

Wiki & Subjxct 5, Cold Cuts (Wikset Enterprise)

Alex Williams, Waging Peace (Lightning Rod)

Witch Fever, Congregation (Music For Nations)

Nikki Yanofsky, Nikki by Starlight (MNRK)

From The Vaults:

A Place to Bury Strangers, Exploding Head: 13th Anniversary Edition (Mute/BMG)

Christina Aguilera, Stripped (10th Anniversary Edition) (RCA)

Jon Brion, Meaningless (Jealous Butcher)

Originally posted here:

Taylor Swifts Midnights tops this weeks new music releases list - cleveland.com

Composition is the art of creating order among the chaos of the natural world, achieved by careful selection of what we include in the frame and where we place those elements.

Probably the best-known compositional approach is the rule of thirds (opens in new tab): dividing the frame into thirds both horizontally and vertically (see the lines in blue, above). The components can then be organized around these divisions, with key focal points placed at the intersection of horizontal and vertical lines.

The rule of thirds is a simplification of a naturally harmonious proportion known as the golden ratio (pink, above), which has been used in art and architecture for many centuries.

The golden ratio also known as the golden mean, golden section, or divine proportion is considered to be beautiful and harmonious. The golden ratio originally comes from the ancient Greek mathematicians it's closely related to the square root of pi and was originally discovered when the Greeks began examining five-sided figures like the pentagon.

Essentially, if the points of the Fibonacci sequence are plotted and connected by a curve, it creates a Fibonacci spiral, which is also known as a golden spiral. This spiral intersects at every point where the rectangle divides, according to the golden ratio of 1.618.

Golden Ratio Crop Tool

The Crop tools Golden Ratio overlay is based on the famous Fibonacci sequence, and you can use this numerical sequence to break up a shot into a series of differently proportioned shapes. When we see a photo that we admire, we may not consciously be aware that its composition conforms to the Crop tools Golden Ratio overlay guide.

When using photo editing software (opens in new tab), there is one important factor that influences the overall harmony of the shot and that is the crop. Cropping is a powerful tool that can make or break your image and when used correctly, we can eliminate any distracting elements in the shot, and direct the viewers gaze and attention to the main subject. This tool can allow new perspectives and transform your photos into results you may not have expected.

In Adobe Photoshop CC (opens in new tab), the Crop tool has other overlays to help you achieve a more pleasing composition. Choose the Golden Ratio overlay. Crop the shot and drag it inside the crop window to place key features in various sub-divided sections. Then, simply hit Enter.

The crop tool must be used with care, especially in portrait and fashion photography, as cut-off elements can impact the end result. Cropping images should be handled strategically keep the ratio of your intended media platform in mind when doing so.

Since the dawn of photography artists have been experimenting with different compositions. Over the past few centuries, however, weve come to accept some basic fundamental rules that you can employ if youre struggling to get a decent composition of the scene in front of you.

Youll have likely heard of the rule of thirds before, and it is one of the classic compositional approaches that well explore in more depth below. The reason youll have heard of it before, and probably even used it to frame your shots previously, is for good reason its a tried and tested method that forces you to position and space your focal points and horizon in a way that makes use of the available space and draws the eye in.

An image is typically perceived as more photogenic if the focal point is carefully positioned one-third of the way in from one or two sides, giving it more room to breathe compared to if you were to butt it up against the frame edge. However, as with any rules, theyre only guidance, and if you have a creative reason to go against the rules that helps you tell the narrative you want, then try that approach, too.

The golden ratio is similar to the rule of thirds technique, as the frame is divided up into nine boxes. What makes it different from the aforementioned technique is that the golden ratio uses the ratio of 1:1.618, so the boxes arent equal. The middle horizontal and vertical boxes that form a cross shape are much squatter than those in the corners, and this places the intersecting lines of the grid much more centrally. The effect of this is that the action will appear to happen in the middle of the frame and will help to draw the viewers eye towards the heart of your shot.

For that reason, the golden ratio is better suited to compositions with a central focal point. The mathematical equation of Fibonaccis spiral crops up time and again in nature and can be used to improve your landscape compositions.

You might also like to read about these 6 classic composition setups (opens in new tab), and tips for landscape photography composition (opens in new tab) with a wide-angle lens.

Excerpt from:

What is the golden ratio in photography composition? - Digital Camera World

OPINION: The golden rule of politics - is that the mic is always on.

It's a rule that was seemingly forgotten by experienced political operator Wayne Brown this week as he called a journalist a prick - and then outlined how he'll put pictures of that journalist in the urinals at council - for everyone to pee on.

What's interesting - is that Brown was openly filming with Newshub at the time he made the remarks.

The microphone was indeed on and Brown was talking on camera to a reporter as they gathered shots for the news story running that evening.

It's less of a hot mic situation - than an open mic one.

It's clear from the footage that Brown was joking, which is part of the reason Newshub Nation decided to run it, so that the tenor and tone of Brown's remarks wouldn't be lost.

And some will enjoy his humour.

But it's also clear that Brown is serious about his dislike of the journalist following critical coverage of his candidacy.

And that might cause some to wonder about his judgment and his ability to take criticism or work calmly with people across the political spectrum, people he doesnt like or councilors who oppose him - questions that are already hanging over Wayne Brown because of his track record and it will raise questions for some about his suitability for the role of Auckland mayor.

Asked about the moment on Newshub Nation this morning, Brown said he didn't mean for the comments to become public, he will talk to people he doesn't get on with, can work with his critics and has developed a mutual respect for Wilson.

And ultimately voters will decide how they feel about the comments, as they make an important decision about who will represent them in a role where credibility, collaboration, conduct and character count.

Rebecca Wright is the co-host of Newshub Nation.

Originally posted here:

Opinion: This week Wayne Brown forgot the golden rule of politics, your mic is always on - Newshub

Bishop Georg Btzing, president of the German bishops conference, speaks during a new conference at the end of the bishops assembly in Fulda.CNS photo/Harald Oppitz, KNA

In a long article in the GermanTagespostpublished on the last day of the German bishops conferences four-day autumn plenary (26-29 September), Curia Cardinal Kurt Koch, the President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, likened the German Synodal Path initiative to a Protestant Nazi movement during the Hitler regime.

What irritates me is that besides scripture and tradition new sources of Revelation are being accepted [by the German synodal path] and it moreover frightens me that this is, once again, happening in Germany as that is what happened during the Nazi dictatorship when the so-called German Christians saw Hitlers rise to power as Revelation, Koch explained.

Founded in 1932, the German Christians were a Protestant religious movement which sympathised with Adolf Hitler. Members had to be racially pure Germans. In 1933 they won the majority of votes in the Protestant Church Election.

Kochs comparison of the synodal path with a Nazi movement during Hitlers war was immediately sharply criticised by the German bishops conference and has led to a feud between Koch and conference president Georg Btzing. The cardinals comparison was unacceptable Btzing told journalists and demanded an apology from Koch.

Should the cardinal not apologise, he, Btzing, would lodge an official complaint with the Holy Father, Btzing spelled out.

Koch replied, I merely assumed that nowadays we could learn from history, but as Bishop Btzings and other peoples vehement reactions show, I must accept that my attempt to do so failed. He then added, I will also have to accept that recollections of the Nazi period are obviously taboo in Germany.

An outraged Btzing declared on 30 September in Bon that Cardinal Koch has not in essence apologised for his unacceptable comments and has on the contrary exacerbated the situation, meaning that he must now as before clearly distance himself from the comments hemade.. Moreover, Batzing went on, with his remark that recollections of the National Socialist Regime are obviously taboo in Germany Koch had suggested that Germany was not prepared to face up to the terrible heritage of the Nazi Regime.

Kochs comments were at once widely criticised not only by churchmen. It was highly regrettable that a comparison with the darkest hour in German history was being used to take sides in an inner-church conflict, the German governments commissioner for anti-Semitism, Felix Klein, lamented.

On the weekend of 1-2 October, Koch was due to visit a parish near Stuttgart and had been invited by the town of Schwbisch Gmnd to sign its Golden Rule Book but after receiving hate mail and threats of violence, the town cancelled the visit. Koch thereupon cancelled all visits to Germany in the coming days.

Cardinal Koch later apologised for offending people and said he never intended to imply that supporters of the German churchs Synodal Path were doing something similar to what a group of Christian supporters of the Nazis did in the 1930s.

At a meeting Oct 4 in Rome with Bishop Btzing, Cardinal Koch expressly emphasised that it was completely far from him to want to impute the terrible ideology of the 1930s to the Synodal Path, said a the bishops conference in a statement the next day.

Cardinal Koch asks for forgiveness from all those who feel hurt by the comparison he made.

Felix Klein, the governments commissioner for Jewish life in Germany and the fight against antisemitism, also criticised Cardinal Koch for resorting to a comparison with the darkest hour in German history to voice is concerns about the Synodal Path.

Link:

Koch apologises after Btzing fury over attack on Synodal Path - The Tablet