Facebook, market volatility, a smattering of personal finance topics for Financial Capability month, and a nod to taxes since April is the taxing season.

Facebook

• We start our FB coverage with an article describing how your data may have been harvested.
• A Vice News article anticipates Zuckerberg grilling in front of Congress.
• Mark Zuckerberg faced Congress for two days.  Wired provides a balanced evaluation of what went down in that hearing room.
• Read how/why the technological complexity shouldn’t keep Congress from considering regulation.
• NY Times journalist Brian Chen looks at what information Facebook has on him.  “Yikes” is an understated reaction.

Personal Finance (Financial Capability Month)

• Want to retire early? Welcome to the FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) Movement...read about several who are trying. 
• The SEC uses Financial Capability Month as an opportunity to make us aware of the educational resources available on their site.
• Amazon looking to make Alexa capable of making personal payments.
• Volatility in the stock market continues.  The best way to handle it may just be to ignore it.
• It's tax time! No excuses! You can't avoid paying your taxes. 
  • For more on taxes, check out What’s New with…Taxes

Behavioral Finance

• You know those extended warranties on electronics and appliances that they badger you to purchase at point of sale....are they a good idea? Not so much. 
• An interesting read on research into how our surroundings influence our decision making and behavior! (like people on higher floors take more risk.)

The Economy and You

• You often see recommendations to reviewing your financing at the new year. CNN  provides a tax-time list of recent events that may impact your wallet in the future.
• In the wake of recent teacher strikes, a closer look at state finances finds teachers and retirees competing for funding.  This might be used as the basis for a class discussion….what can be done?
• The Washington Post Wonkblog looks at potential impact of the deficit on individuals.

Education and Learning

• The NYT had a special section in this past Sunday’s paper on Learning, covering K-12 through adult education.  Here is one example of what you’ll find there: The Draw of Community Colleges, especially to the middle class.
• How young is too young to teach children how to handle the internet?

Infographic

• Do your students wonder what it takes to be a millionaire or billionaire?  Visual Capitalist illustrates how the world's billionaires got there.

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