Most Expensive States to Live In

Top 10 States Where It’s Most Expensive to Live Comfortably

States are ranked by the income needed to live comfortably as a single adult according to the 50/30/20 budget.

Massachusetts
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $55.78
Salary needed for a single working adult: $116,022
Rank of income needed for a family: 1
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $301,184

Hawaii
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $54.66
Salary needed for a single working adult: $113,692
Rank of income needed for a family: 2
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $294,612

California
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $54.64
Salary needed for a single working adult: $113,652
Rank of income needed for a family: 5
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $276,724

New York
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $53.72
Salary needed for a single working adult: $111,738
Rank of income needed for a family: 4
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $278,970

Washington
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $51.20
Salary needed for a single working adult: $106,496
Rank of income needed for a family: 7
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $257,420

Colorado
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $49.66
Salary needed for a single working adult: $103,292
Rank of income needed for a family: 6
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $264,992

New Jersey
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $49.52
Salary needed for a single working adult: $103,002
Rank of income needed for a family: 9
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $251,180

Maryland
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $49.48
Salary needed for a single working adult: $102,918
Rank of income needed for a family: 15
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $239,450

Oregon
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $48.60
Salary needed for a single working adult: $101,088
Rank of income needed for a family: 8
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $257,338

Rhode Island
Hourly wage needed for a single working adult: $48.48
Salary needed for a single working adult: $100,838
Rank of income needed for a family: 10
Salary needed across two working adults raising two children: $249,268

Contemporary Black Artists

Amy Sherald⁠
If her name sounds familiar, it’s probably because she painted First Lady Michelle Obama’s portrait that now hangs in the National Gallery….no big deal.

Amy Sherald at Hauser & Wirth Gallery
“She is best known for her portrait paintings. Her choices of subjects look to enlarge the genre of American art historical realism by telling African-American stories within their own tradition. She is well known for using grisaille to portray skin tones in her work as a way of challenging the concept of color-as-race. Her style is simplified realism, involving staged photographs of her subjects.” (source)

Sherald is represented by Hauser & Wirth gallery globally.


Website: http://www.amysherald.com/

Instagram: @asherald

Amy Sherald at Hauser & Wirth

‍

Arcmanoro Niles
Acrmanoro Niles at Rachel Uffner Gallery
“A traditionally trained painter, Niles is heavily influenced by art history, specifically history painting and portraiture. The poses of his characters and attention to light call to mind classical compositions yet Niles disrupts these standards by using a highly saturated color palette over orange and blue grounds. Niles has removed neutral colors, blacks, whites, and browns from his palette in order to demonstrate the complex skin tones of his subjects while adding a noble glow.” - Rachel Uffner (source)

Website: http://www.arcmanoro.com/

Instagram: @arcmanoro
Arcmanoro Niles at Rachel Uffner Gallery

Barthélémy Toguo
Barthélémy Toguo at Galerie Lelong
“Working across painting, drawing, sculpture, photography, performance, and installation, Barthélémy Toguo addresses enduring and immediately relevant issues of borders, exile, and displacement. At the core of his practice is the notion of belonging, which stems from his dual French/Cameroonian nationality. Through poetic, hopeful, and often figural gestures connecting nature with the human body, Toguo foregrounds concerns with both ecological and societal implications. Recently, his works have been informed by movements and humanitarian tragedy including #BlackLivesMatter and the refugee crisis.” (source)

Website: http://www.barthelemytoguo.com/

Instagram: @barthelemy_toguo

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Carrie Mae Weems
Carrie Mae Weems at the Tate Museum
Considered one of the most influential contemporary American artists, Carrie Mae Weems has investigated family relationships, cultural identity, sexism, class, political systems, and the consequences of power.” (source)
“The Kitchen Table Series (1990), is one of Weems’ most seminal works, and widely considered one of the most important bodies of contemporary photography. The series, for which Weems herself posed as the main subject, is set at a woman’s kitchen table—a domestic stage—revealing intimate moments of her life as the story unfolds.” (source)


Weems is represented by Jack Shainman Gallery.


Website: http://carriemaeweems.net/

Instagram: @carriemaeweems

‍
Chris Ofili

Chris Ofili is a British artist and winner of the Turner Prize in 1998.

Chris Ofili's paintings at David Zwirner Gallery
“His works—vibrant, symbolic, and frequently mysterious—draw upon the lush landscapes and local traditions of the island of Trinidad, where he has lived since 2005. Employing a diverse range of aesthetic and cultural sources, including, among others, Zimbabwean cave paintings, blaxploitation films, Ovid’s Metamorphoses, and modernist painting, Ofili’s work investigates the intersection of desire, identity, and representation.” (source)

Ofili is represented by David Zwirner Gallery.

Chris Ofili at David Zwirner Gallery



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Cinga Samson
Cinga Samson at Perrotin Gallery
Cinga Samson is a South African painter, whose “oil works on canvas manifest echoes of what he describes as the superstitions and spirituality integral to his upbringing in the town of Ethembeni and its surrounding countryside. Desire, aspiration, and celebration of identity drive much of his work, for which he draws inspiration from fashion, heritage, and the works of Paul Gauguin and Andrew Wyeth, among others.” (source)
"The Cape Town–based artist [Cinga Samson] sets out to create a positive depiction of his generation of youth in South Africa, and the continent at large. It was in reaction to feeling frustrated and preoccupied with the political climate." - Whitewall⁠

Instagram: @cinga_samson

Cinga Samson at Perrotin Gallery

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Conrad Egyir
Conrad Egyir at Jessica Silverman Gallery
“Addressing contemporary American culture, biblical parables and Ashanti iconography from his native Ghana, Egyir’s work explores questions of ethics, honesty, identity and the social-psychology of community. Monumental, uncanny and often satirically grandiose, the paintings combine the graphic sensuality of Pop Art with the far-reaching narratives of history painting.” (source)

Website: https://conradegyir.com/

Instagram: @conrad_egyir

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In The NEWS

Sports, Entertainment, & Culture
> The 108th Indianapolis 500 takes place Sunday (12:30 pm ET, NBC) from Indianapolis Motor Speedway (More) | Footage releasedof world No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler’s arrest last weekoutside PGA Championship venue (More)

> Charlie Colin, founding member of rock band Train, dies at 58 after slipping and falling in shower (More)

> Toronto awarded WNBA franchise, will be first non-US WNBA team when they begin play in 2026 (More) | NBA MVP Nikola Jokić, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Luka Dončić headline All-NBA team (More)


Science & Technology
> Atomic-level images reveal the first few layers of ice begin to melt around minus 240 degrees Fahrenheit, far below the bulk freezing point; helps resolve decades-old debate over why ice is so slippery (More)

> Researchers discover crows can produce deliberate number of calls on demand, demonstrating counting skills only previously seen in humans (More)

> Study finds two distinct cell groups involved in fentanyl addiction, one developing when the drug is taken and one upon withdrawal; findings may lead to new treatments for opioid dependence (More)


Business & Markets
> Markets tumble (Dow -1.5%, S&P 500 -0.7%, Nasdaq -0.4%), with Dow notching its worst day of 2024 and more than 400 of the S&P 500 falling on the day amid Federal Reserve concerns over persistent inflation (More) | Boeing drops more than 7% as company forecasts negative free cash flow (More)

> US business groups file suit to block Biden administration rule requiring mandatory overtime pay for salaried workers making less than $1,128 per week; plaintiffs argue regulation would negatively impact small businesses and nonprofits (More)

> Top venture funds a16z, Sequoia, and Tribe reportedly to join $6B funding round for Elon Musk's artificial intelligence xAI startup; raise values the company at $18B (More)


Politics & World Affairs
> US Supreme Court rejects claim that removal of Black voters from swing district constitutes illegal gerrymandering (More) | Democrats call for investigation of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito after controversial flag reported flown outside his vacation home (More) | What is the "Appeal to Heaven" flag? (More)

> Louisiana state Senate passes a bill treating abortion medication as controlled substances akin to Ambien, Valium, and Xanax; if signed into law, anyone who is not pregnant or a licensed medical provider could face up to five years in prison and thousands of dollars in fines if found carrying mifepristone or misoprostol (More)

> China holds military drills around Taiwan following inauguration of President William Lai; Taiwanese officials say the drills mark first-ever simulation of a full-scale attack as opposed to economic blockade (More)

SOURCE:  1440 News

Life's Journey

 

It has been stated by people a hell of a lot smarter than me that LIFE IS A JOURNEY...  and I suppose that they are correct in the since that our journey lasts from BIRTH UNTIL DEATH.

• The journey that we take is NEVER CLEAR.
• The journey that we take is NEVER CERTAIN.
• The journey that we take is NEVER WHAT WE THINK IT WILL BE.

Of course, when we are younger, we never picture our life as a journey, nor do we see the journey when we are middle-aged even though we no doubt have heard the term often.  It is oftentimes not until we have retired that we can look back upon the JOURNEY WE HAVE TAKEN.

When I went to college, I avoided taking classes where there was public speaking involved.  Two years after I graduated, I gave my first public speech and that type of activity continued throughout my career.

What I also discovered during my high school, college, and graduate school years is that I HATED EDUCATION.  I made fun of my teachers and professors and complained to other students when they were boring or not prepared for class.

Thirty years after I graduated from college, I accepted my first teaching position at a college that awarded associate degrees and later bachelor's degrees.  The classes that I taught were English and Business classes.

When I retired in 2015 about working for 45 years, I discovered that my life and career had been 180 degrees different from what I had thought it would be.  Not only was it different, but my beliefs and personality changed as well...  although, I never eliminated all the BAD ASPECTS of my behavior and character.

My career was FULFILLING, and I helped change the lives of numerous people...  BUT...  I never got wealthy in the process...  I always managed to earn what I needed to live a simple lifestyle.

I played football, baseball, basketball, and track in high school.  I lifted weights for about twenty years but did so not to build muscles but tone my body.  At 40 years of age, I gave up smoking, drinking alcohol, and eating red meat.  I walked or ran 2-3 miles a day, 7 days a week and ate healthy.

TWENTY YEARS later, I was diagnosed with cancer and experienced a heart attack.  Oddly enough, being healthy all my life saved me during the heart attack but did not stop cancer.  The doctor said I had a one in a million chance of one or both of these happening.

WE SIMPLY NEVER KNOW WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN TO US NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE PLAN...  and yet PLANNING is the only way to have a comfortable retirement.

Your journey will not doubt involve ups and down and the odds are you too will look back on your life once you retire and admit you never thought your life would turn out like this.

However, someone is bound to have seen our lives unfold before they actually unfolded...

Somewhat Political

 

Beyond Hydrogen

Recent discoveries in quantum physics have revealed simpler atomic structures than hydrogen, involving pure electromagnetic interactions between particles like electrons and their antiparticles. 

This advancement has significant implications for our understanding of quantum mechanics and fundamental physics, highlighted by new methods for detecting tauonium, which could revolutionize measurements of particle physics.

The hydrogen atom was once considered the simplest atom in nature, composed of a structureless electron and a structured proton. However, as research progressed, scientists discovered a simpler type of atom, consisting of structureless electrons (e-), muons (μ-), or tauons (τ-) and their equally structureless antiparticles. 

These atoms are bound together solely by electromagnetic interactions, with simpler structures than hydrogen atoms, providing a new perspective on scientific problems such as quantum mechanics, fundamental symmetry, and gravity.  READ MORE...

Chicago

 

Expresso

 

Animals

 

Mark Twain

 

Types of Cannabis Plants

Sativa in-depth

Images Origin: Cannabis sativa is found primarily in hot, dry climates with long sunny days. These include Africa, Central America, Southeast Asia, and portions of Western Asia.

Plant description: Sativa plants are tall and thin with finger-like leaves. They can grow to about 6 feet (ft) or 2 meters (m). They take longer to mature than some other types of cannabis.
Typical CBD-to-THC ratio: Sativa often has lower doses of CBD and higher doses of THC, whereas indica tends to have less THC than CBD.
Commonly associated effects of use: Sativa often produces a “mind high” or an energizing, anxiety-reducing effect.
Daytime or nighttime use: Because of its stimulating effects, sativa is often used in the daytime.
Popular strains: Various sativa strains may be used for different purposes.



Indica in-depth
ImagesOrigin: Cannabis indica is native to Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, and Turkey. The plants have adapted to the often harsh, dry, and turbulent climate of the Hindu Kush mountains.
Plant description: Indica plants are short and stocky with bushy greenery and chunky leaves that grow wide and broad. They grow faster than sativa, and each plant produces more buds.
Typical CBD-to-THC ratio: Indica strains often have higher levels of CBD, but the THC content isn’t necessarily less.
Commonly associated effects of use: Indica is sought after for its intensely relaxing effects. It may also help reduce nausea and pain and increase appetite.
Daytime or nighttime use: Because of its deep relaxation effects, indica is typically consumed at night.
Popular strains: Like sativa, there are also various indica strains.


Hybrid in-depth


Each year, cannabis growers produce new and unique strains from different combinations of parent plants. These cannabis hybrids are often grown to target specific effects.Origin: Hybrids are typically grown on farms or in greenhouses from a combination of sativa and indica plants.
Plant description: The appearance of hybrid strains depends on the combination of the parent plants.
Typical CBD-to-THC ratio: Many hybrid cannabis plants are grown to increase the THC percentage, but each type has a unique ratio of the two cannabinoids.
Commonly associated effects of use: Farmers and producers select hybrids for their unique effects. They can range from reducing anxiety and stress to easing symptoms of chemotherapy or radiation.
Daytime or nighttime use: This depends on the predominant effects of the hybrid.
Popular strains: Hybrids are typically classified as indica-dominant (indica-dom), sativa-dominant (sativa-dom), or balanced.





Ruderalis in-depth


A third type of cannabis, Cannabis ruderalis, also exists. However, it’s not widely used because it usually produces no potent effects.Origin: Ruderalis plants adapt to extreme environments, such as Eastern Europe, the Himalayan regions of India, Siberia, and Russia. These plants grow quickly, which is ideal for the cold, low sunlight environments of these places.
Plant description: These small, bushy plants rarely grow taller than 12 inches (in), but they grow rapidly. One can go from seed to harvest in little more than a month.
Typical CBD-to-THC ratio: This strain typically has little THC and higher amounts of CBD, but it may not be enoughTrusted Source to produce any effects.
Commonly associated effects of use: Because of its low potency, ruderalis isn’t routinely used for medicinal or recreational purposes.
Daytime or nighttime use: This cannabis plant produces few effects, so that it can be used anytime.
Popular strains: On its own, ruderalis isn’t a popular cannabis option. However, cannabis farmers may breed ruderalis with other cannabis types, including sativa and indica. The plant’s rapid growth cycle is a positive attribute for producers, so they may want to combine more potent strains with ruderalis strains to create a more desirable product.

Growing Marijuana

Have you heard the news? Marijuana/cannabis became legal in Minnesota on August 1. It only took about 15 days for me to get my first Master Gardener question about it, so I did some digging into this psychedelic plant. Full disclosure: I have never actually grown it myself, so my information was gleaned from the internet. Reader, I googled this for you and found a dizzying array of blog posts, YouTube videos and news articles. Here is my attempt to distill it all into something… edible.

Question:
How hard is it to grow marijuana? Are there any regulations around it if you’re just growing it for personal use?

Answer:
First, let’s explore regulations, since those are unique to Minnesota. The full list of regulations around growing and consuming cannabis in the gopher state can be found on a new website, cannabis.mn.gov. The state says:

• Up to eight cannabis plants, with no more than four being mature, flowering plants may be grown at a single residence as long as it is at the primary residence of someone 21 or older. 
• Plants must be in an enclosed, locked space that is not open for public view.

So what this means is that, practically speaking, if you’re starting plants from seed you would start no more than four at a time, so that after you harvest the first four, you’ll have four more almost ready to flower and then you can start four more plants from seed, and so on. This is if you’d want a continuous supply.  READ MORE...

Pros and Cons of Weed

Is weed good for you? What to know about the health benefits of cannabis


Medicinal benefits
Health risks
Good or bad?
Summary



Many people use cannabis and cannabis products as a treatment for chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, and mental health conditions. However, research has identified both benefits and risks to using cannabis as a medicinal treatment.

The medical benefits of cannabis most commonly come from cannabidiol (CBD) and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). These are two compounds found in Cannabis sativa plants.


In states where it is legal, medical professionals may prescribe dried cannabis, oils, tablets, and other products containing CBD and THC to treat a range of conditions. These are broadly referred to as “medicinal cannabis.”

The effects of these treatments are well-studied and typically well-tolerated for their intended use. However, using cannabis products outside of their prescribed use or using cannabis from unlicensed distributors can carry great risk.

In this article, we look at the scientific evidence weighing the medical benefits of cannabis against its associated health risks.    READ MORE...

Best Quotes of all Time

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. -Mahatma Gandhi

Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier. -Mother Teresa

The only thing we have to fear is fear itself. -Franklin D. Roosevelt

Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that. -Martin Luther King Jr.

Do one thing every day that scares you. -Eleanor Roosevelt

Well done is better than well said. -Benjamin Franklin

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. -Helen Keller

It is during our darkest moments that we must focus to see the light. -Aristotle

Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

Be yourself; everyone else is already taken. -Oscar Wilde

Robot Lawn Mowers

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Greenworks Pro Optimow 50H Robotic Lawn Mower
Longest Running Time
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Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD
Best for Steep Hills
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Gardena Robotic Mower Sileno City
Most Affordable
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Easy Exercising

Basic chair exercises are exercises that can be done while sitting on a chair12. They can help improve mobility, strength, and flexibility. Some examples of basic chair exercises are12:

• Ankle and wrist rolls
• Single-leg calf raise
• Sit and stands
• Seated hip marches
• Heel slides
• Seated shoulder press
• Seated torso twists

Too Hot for Chili???

• 
  
• 
  
  
• The Best Chili Recipe

  spendwithpennies.com (2.6k)

  1 hr 5 min · 492 cals · 8 servs

  Read full directions

  This is the best chili recipe! A big pot of ground beef chili loaded with beef and beans is the perfect game day food!

  • RECIPE
  • NUTRITIONAL INFO
  • SUBSTITUTIONS

  Ingredients

  • 2 pounds
    Lean Ground Beef
  • 1
    Onion (diced)
  • 1
    Jalapeno (seeded and finely diced)
  • 4 cloves
    Garlic (minced)
  • 2 ½ tablespoons
    Chili Powder (divided, or to taste)
  • 1 teaspoon
    Cumin
  • 1
    Green Bell Pepper (seeded and diced)
  • 14 ½ ounces
    Tomatoes (crushed, canned)
  • 19 ounces
    Kidney Beans (canned, drained & rinsed)
  • 14 ½ ounces
    Tomatoes (diced, with juice)
  • 1 ½ cups
    Beef Broth
  • 1 cup
    Beer
  • 1 tablespoon
    Tomato Paste
  • 1 tablespoon
    Brown Sugar (optional)
  • add
    Salt And Pepper

  Directions

  1. Combine ground beef and 1 1⁄2 tablespoons chili powder.

  2. In a large pot, brown ground beef, onion, jalapeno, and garlic. Drain any fat.

  3. Add in remaining ingredients and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered 45-60 minutes or until chili has r...

  Read full directions

White Room

 

China Warns about AI Piloted Jects

Recently, the Secretary of the United States Air Force, Frank Kendall, conducted a flight aboard an experimental F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter jet equipped and piloted with artificial intelligence. However, this has become a cause for concern for the People’s Republic of China, as the use of AI in combat aircraft could signify a platform with superior capabilities and response times compared to a human-piloted aircraft.

It is worth noting that this is not the first occasion on which an aircraft controlled by artificial intelligence has been tested. In mid-April, the experimental X-62A VISTA aircraft, originally based on an F-16 fighter and used for AI testing, engaged in simulated aerial combat against other F-16 fighters of the United States Air Force. Various simulations were conducted, emphasizing beyond-visual-range aerial combat against F-16 fighters.  READ MORE...

Somewhat Political