Understanding the tax code, and more

Understanding the tax code

In the course of the last decade, there have been 4,428 changes to the federal tax code, or more than one per day. As a result of the code’s growing complexity, Americans spent a total of 7.64 billion hours in 2010 negotiating tax-related paperwork—more than twice the working time of all the elementary school teachers in the U.S.

Reason.com

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Tax day is bad for driving

The number of fatal car crashes is 6 percent higher than average on tax filing day, according to a new study of 30 years of accident data. Researchers blame distraction in stressed-out drivers.

CNN.com

The expense of prom night

The high school prom has become an expensive milestone. Between the dress, flowers, a limo, and hair styling, the average family of a teenager is expected to lay out $1,078 on prom this year, up from $807 last year.

USA Today

Veteran suicides surpass battlefield deaths

For every U.S. soldier killed on the battlefield this year, about 25 veterans will commit suicide. About 6,500 veteran suicides are reported every year—more than the total number of soldiers killed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The New York Times

The Harvard-Yale streak at the White House

Since George H.W. Bush was elected in 1988, every president has been a graduate of either Harvard or Yale. If Mitt Romney takes on Barack Obama in November, it will be Harvard vs. Harvard, and the streak will continue. Eight Harvard grads have served as president so far.

CNN.com