How Does The IRS Get Millionaires To Pay Their Taxes?
New numbers unveiled by the IRS reveal it has collected over half a billion dollars in overdue taxes since from delinquent millionaires. A push to modernize its tools and technology began back in 2022 when the agency received $80 million authorized from the Inflation Reduction Act to buttress enforcement of corporations and rich households. So, what exactly are those tools and technology used to snuff out wealthy tax evaders? And what will the IRS do with recouped taxes? Joining us today on AirTalk to discuss how the IRS is modernizing its auditing is Jon Choi, professor of law specializing in tax and AI at USC.
How To Identify An Energy Vampire And What To Do If You’re In An Emotionally Draining Relationship?
They may not suck your blood, but they can definitely drain the life out of you. We’re talking about energy vampires. Although the term “energy vampire” has gained recent popularity with its depiction in the comedy series “What We Do In The Shadows,” the concept of an emotionally draining relationship is as old as Count Dracula himself. Whether it be a co-worker, a friend, or even a family member, some people are mentally and physically taxing to interact with to the point where it may seem best to cut off ties for the sake of your own mental health. But what if your energy vampire isn’t someone so easily excised? How can one set boundaries in a devitalizing relationship? And what if you’re the energy vampire?
Joining us today to talk about how to identify and deal with emotionally draining coworkers and friends is Adrienne Meier, licensed psychologist in Pasadena. We also want to hear from you! Who is the energy vampire in your life? What have you done to lessen the strain of interacting with them? And if you think you’re an energy vampire, call us at 866-893-5722 or email us at atcomments@laist.com.
The Barcode Turns 50 This Year. Could Its Time As The Standard Product ID Be Limited?
The advent of the barcode in 1974 revolutionized product identification and inventory tracking for retailers, and opened the door for them to start carrying thousands more versions of similar products. Whereas before the barcode, retailers would have to affix individual price stickers to each product, its arrival meant item labels could be printed with this jumble of lines and scanned to link to an exact product and price within a store’s inventory. And yet, for one of the most important developments in retail history over the last half century, not much about the barcode has really changed since it first appeared on a package of Wrigley gum. Not that it’s had to change -- it works as well today as it did in 1974. But as technology advances, a new product identifier has emerged with the potential to usurp the barcode’s throne -- the QR code. Yes, though it started out slow, the black-and-white square adorned with dots is becoming more ubiquitous -- and it can store much more information. A barcode can tell you an item and its price, but a QR code can tell you those things plus its manufacture date, its expiration date, and much more. Shoppers could scan a QR code to unlock a curated experience from the product maker, earn discounts, find recipes, access nutrition facts…the list goes on. As Saahil Desai writes in his recent piece “The Barcode Engineered Its Own Downfall,” while it’s unlikely that the barcode will ever be fully replaced by the QR code, which is still gaining a foothold in retail and may not have the barcode’s decades-long staying power, the product variety the barcode created when it first appeared may be the very thing that could lead to it fading into relative obscurity.
Today on AirTalk, Saahil Desai joins us to talk about the history and future of the barcode, and how it revolutionized and stabilized the retail business for the last half century.
One Man’s Year-Long Mission To Eat 100 Sandwiches In LA And Rank Them
Food Friday has arrived! And today, host Austin Cross is joined by a man who’s been on a mission this last year to try 100 different sandwiches across Los Angeles. Not only that, he ranked them. Luca Servodio, founder of The LA Countdown and host of The LA Food Podcast, joins to discuss what it takes to be a notable sandwich in this city and how they stack up. We also want to hear your pick for the number one sandwich in SoCal! Call 866-893-5722 or email atcomments@laist.com.
Read about Luca Servodio’s experience eating 100 sandwiches in LA here at LAist.com
FilmWeek: ‘Mean Girls,’ ‘The Book of Clarence,’ ‘Role Play’ And More
Larry Mantle and LAist film critics Manuel Betancourt and Lael Loewenstein review this weekend’s new movie releases in theaters, streaming, and on demand platforms:
“The Beekeeper” Wide Release
“Mean Girls” Wide Release
“The Settlers” Laemmle Royal [West LA]
“Driving Madeleine” Landmark Theaters Sunset [West Hollywood] + Landmark Pasadena Playhouse [Pasadena] + Laemmle’s Town Center Encino [Encino]
“Lift” Streaming on Netflix
“Self Reliance” Streaming on HULU
“The Book of Clarence” In Select Theaters
FilmWeek Feature: Larry Mantle Interviews Director Celine Song About Her New Film PAST LIVES
Nora and Hae Sung, two deeply connected childhood friends, are wrested apart after Nora's family emigrates from South Korea. Twenty years later, they are reunited for one fateful week as they confront notions of love and destiny. This film marks Celine Song’s directorial debut and stars Greta Lee, Teo Yoo and John Magaro.
