Watercooler Stories

RELIGIOUS AFFILIATION LINKED TO WEALTH

Religious affiliation plays a powerful role in how much wealth Americans accumulate -- Jews accumulate the

most wealth and conservative Protestants the least.

Using Bureau of Labor Statistics, an Ohio State University study found the median net worth of Jewish people in the survey is $150,890. Roman Catholics and mainline Protestants had a median income of 48,200 and conservative Protestants has median income of $26,200.

"What I'm finding is that families have a powerful influence on how people learn to save, and religion is often

an important part of family life," says study author Lisa Keister, associate professor of sociology at Ohio State

University.

The study, published in journal Social Forces, also found those that had regular attendance at religious

services tended to be more wealthy.

SMOKING POLICE

Health inspectors in New York City have written 524 tickets to violators of the city's new smoking ban in public places, including bars.

Thirty bars and restaurants have been ticketed more than once since the law was enacted March 30, according to Nancy Miller of the New York City Health Department.

In addition, Miller said the Health Department has received almost 2,000 complaints about smoking, the New York Post reports.

At a hearing on the smoking ban at Pace University, sponsored by Manhattan Borough President Virginia Field, Miller said the ban was not hurting the restaurant industry.

CELL PHONES AN ACCESSORY

Early cars came in only one color -- black -- and so did early cell phones, but since then cell phones have become fashion statements.

Cell phone designers are making high tech into high fashion by using special teams to design trendy phones with hot colors, different shapes and ring tones.

That's because cell phones no longer are just a piece of equipment but an accessory that makes a statement of a person's individuality, personality or status, according to phone manufacturer Siemens.

There is an estimated 100 million cell phone subscribers in the United States -- with the average user purchasing a new cell phone every 18 months, according to Siemens.

FLORIDA TOPS IN SENIORS

Florida has the highest proportion of people age 65 and over and in the nation, but it also leads all states with the largest numerical increase of children ages 5 to 17.

According to estimates by the U.S. Census Bureau, Florida has 2.8 million students ages 5 to 17 -- almost equal to the 2.9 million seniors ages 65 and over.

Meanwhile, three states and the District of Columbia show minorities constitute the majority.

Seventy-seven percent of Hawaii is made up of minorities, New Mexico has 56 percent, California 54 percent, while the District of Columbia is 72 percent minority.