NEAT NUMBERS

130M

First wave of more than 130 million "economic stimulus payments" from the federal government are scheduled to be sent to Americans' mailboxes or bank accounts starting next week.

For direct deposit, if the last two digits of your social security number is between 00 and 20, your payment will be sent to your bank account by May 2. For numbers 21 through 75, payment will be made on May 9. For 76-99, deposit will be made by May 16.

Schedule for those receiving payment by mail is as follows: 00-09, check put in mail by May 16; 10-18, May 23; 19-25, May 30; 26-38, June 6; 39-51, June 13; 52-63, June 20; 64-75, June 27; 76-87, July 4; 88-99, July 11.

The Internal Revenue Service has installed an online calculator at its website (irs.gov) to help Americans determine if they qualify and, if so, how much they'll receive.

Eligible individuals will get $600, or as much as $1,200 for married couples who file federal returns jointly. Parents will receive an additional $300 for each eligible child younger than 17.

41

A research firm, Insight Express, polled Americans on how they plan to spend their economic stimulus checks.

Rather than purchasing items, some 41 percent said they will use it to pay off debt; 19 percent said they'll save it and 17 percent said they'll apply it to ordinary expenses. Only seven percent responded that they'll spend the money on something they would not normally have purchased.

13.4

Women are growing better educated than men.

There are now 13.3 females in an average college graduating class for every 10 males. The ratio of females to males has risen every year since statistics started to be kept in the 1970s.

Gender equality has come a long way, but in Pennsylvania a woman still makes an average of 76 cents for every dollar a man makes in a comparable job.

8

Rich Cashdollar is the longest-serving president in the history of the Emporium Country Club.

He is serving in his eighth year, succeeding Stan Whiting (1998-2000), who came on after Pat Fannin served for six years (1992-97). Pat also served a sixyear term starting in 1992.

Howard N. Signor was the first club president, serving in 1955. Following were V. H. Campbell, S. C. Janotti, R. M. Taylor, R. L. Lunn, J. J. Lawler, L. P. Minard Jr., John R. Impress, B. G. Hathaway, R. M Isacke, and R. L. Yannitto (1965-66).

8M

Another ripple effect of rising gasoline prices: the U.S. Postal Service reports that for each penny added to the price of gas, USPS incurs another $8 million in daily expenses.

61

As taxpayers rushed to meet the April 15 deadline for filing taxes, few took solace in the federal tax code's friendly treatment of corporations.

According to the U.S. Government Accountability Office, 61 percent of American corporations, including 39 percent if large companies, paid no corporate income taxes between 1996 and 2000.

Corporations shouldered 14.4 percent of the U.S. tax burden in 2007. That figure was 50 percent in 1940.

85

A whopping 85 percent Americans ages 13-54 own cell phones.

Some 74 percent of adults, or 149 million, now use the Internet. That figure was 66 percent in 2006.

10

Kettle Creek Watershed Assn. observes its 10th anniversary this year.

The organization, based in the small village of Cross Fork in southern Potter County, seeks to protect, restore and monitor water resources spread across a 244 square mile area. Public education is a big part of the KWCA mission.

Next meeting of the group is Saturday, May 3, at the Cross Fork Firehall, starting with a dinner at 6 pm. Public participation is welcome. For additional information, contact Mary Hirst, director of Ole Bull State Park, at 435-2218.

17

As of 2005, women averaged 17 hours of housework per week, while men averaged 13 hours.

The figures were 26 for women and six for men in 1976.