History of the U.S.: A Ridiculously Long and Incomplete List of Things Ben Franklin Invented We all remember Ben Franklin as a pretty bright guy who discovered some pretty important stuff. The real question is, what didn’t this polymath genius invent? 1742: Observing the wasteful use of firewood in inefficient colonial fireplaces, he designed the Franklin Stove, which used its iron body to diffuse a much larger proportion of the heat. The stove enabled poor families to save money and be warmer in the winter.1749: Noticing that lightning was attracted to metal and tall objects, Franklin hit on the idea of attaching vertical metal rods to the tops of tall buildings to attract the lightning, thus sparing the roof a direct hit.1752: To prove that lightning was static electricity, Franklin carried out his famous kite experiment with the help of his young son William (nobody ever said he was a responsible parent). He conducted an electrical charge from a key along a wire into a primitive battery. Looking for more fabulous content like this?
Tax Overview[edit] The legal definition and the economic definition of taxes differ in that economists do not regard many transfers to governments as taxes. For example, some transfers to the public sector are comparable to prices. Purposes and effects[edit] Most economists, especially neoclassical economists, argue that all taxation creates market distortion and results in economic inefficiency. Governments use different kinds of taxes and vary the tax rates. A nation's tax system is often a reflection of its communal values and the values of those in current political power. Since governments also resolve commercial disputes, especially in countries with common law, similar arguments are sometimes used to justify a sales tax or value added tax. Kinds of taxes[edit] The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) publishes an analysis of tax systems of member countries. Taxes on income[edit] Income tax[edit] Negative income tax[edit] Capital gains tax[edit] Corporate tax[edit]
Taxes President Obama has passed wide-ranging tax relief for working families and small businesses — the drivers of economic growth. But to pay down our deficit and invest in the future, we have to make hard choices. That means asking those at the top to do their fair share and putting an end to special privileges and loopholes that benefit those who need them the least. Tax Cuts for the Middle Class Within weeks of taking office, President Obama took immediate action in the midst of the economic crisis to restore security for middle-class families by cutting their taxes in the Recovery Act. Since then, President Obama has continued to cut taxes for middle class families to make it easier for them to make ends meet. On January 2, 2013, President Obama signed bipartisan legislation that will make sure income tax rates stay low permanently for 98 percent of Americans, while asking the wealthiest households to pay a little more to help reduce the deficit. Tax Cuts for Small Businesses Tax Reform 1.
Pythagorean cup Cross section Cross section of a Pythagorean cup. A Pythagorean cup (also known as a Pythagoras cup, a Greedy Cup or a Tantalus cup) is a form of drinking cup that forces its user to imbibe only in moderation. Credited to Pythagoras of Samos, it allows the user to fill the cup with wine up to a certain level. If he fills the cup only to that level, the imbiber may enjoy a drink in peace. If he exhibits gluttony, however, the cup spills its entire contents out of the bottom (onto the lap of the immodest drinker).[1] Form and function[edit] A Pythagorean cup looks like a normal drinking cup, except that the bowl has a central column in it – giving it a shape like a Bundt pan in the center of the cup. When the cup is filled, liquid rises through the second pipe up to the chamber at the top of the central column, following Pascal's principle of communicating vessels. Common occurrences[edit] A Pythagorean cup sold in Crete A Pythagorean cup sold in Samos See also[edit] References[edit]
Tax Foundation Amended Returns: Eight Facts IRS Tax Tip 2012-72, April 13, 2012 If you discover an error on your federal income tax return after you e-filed or mailed it, you may want or need to amend your return. Perhaps you are eligible for a deduction or credit and you missed it the first time? Here are eight key points the IRS wants you to know about when considering whether to file an amended federal income tax return. Use Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Links: Form 1040X, Amended U.S. Videos: Amending My Return - English | Spanish | ASL
Qin Shi Huang Di Qin Shi Huang Di A long time ago, China was crazy. During the Warring States Period, dudes like Sun Tzu and other guys were running around killing each other and the area that we now know as China was actually composed of six or seven different states that were all trying to conquer one another. There was near-constant war, and nobody was really able to get control of what the hell was going on. Well one day the king of the state of Qin decided he was sick of all this stupid bullshit, so he put together a hugeass army and kicked the nuts of all the other states, uniting everyone under the Kingdom of Qin in 221 BCE. It was the first time that anyone had accomplished this feat, and it was so momentous that Western jackasses from that point on started calling the country "China". Since there wasn't a whole lot going on outside of the seven kingdoms, most Chinese people believed that the King of Qin had conquered the entire world. He was also totally paranoid. It didn't really work though.
Tobin tax A Tobin tax, suggested by Nobel Laureate economist James Tobin, was originally defined as a tax on all spot conversions of one currency into another. The tax is intended to put a penalty on short-term financial round-trip excursions into another currency. Tobin suggested his currency transaction tax in 1972 in his Janeway Lectures at Princeton, shortly after the Bretton Woods system of monetary management ended in 1971.[1] Prior to 1971, one of the chief features of the Bretton Woods system was an obligation for each country to adopt a monetary policy that maintained the exchange rate of its currency within a fixed value—plus or minus one percent—in terms of gold. Then, on August 15, 1971, United States President Richard Nixon announced that the United States dollar would no longer be convertible to gold, effectively ending the system. The tax on foreign exchange transactions was devised to cushion exchange rate fluctuations. Concepts and definitions[edit] Tobin's concept[edit]
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009: Information Center Update May 31, 2013 — Some of the credits and other provisions described on this page, which either expired at the end of 2011 or were set to change or expire at the end of 2012, were extended by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (ATRA). Updated information is noted, where applicable, on the web pages relating to these specific credits and other provisions. Update Oct. 31, 2011 — Some of the credits and other provisions described on this page, which were to change or expire at the end of 2010, were extended by the Tax Relief and Job Creation Act of 2010. Additional updated information is noted, where applicable, on the web pages relating to these specific credits and other provisions. Update July 6, 2010 — For those claiming the homebuyer credit, the deadline for closing (going to settlement) on home purchases was extended from June 30 to Sept. 30, 2010. Información en Español Information for Individuals Can you benefit from Recovery Act tax credits? Education benefits.
Civil War Letters Collection Home » Civil War Letters Collection Tis hard to see the mighty prancing war horse, trampling the dying and dead beneath their merciless feet. No dear wife, near to speak a word of comfort. No living sister or Mother to administer relief in that hour the most sad in the history of humanity. O the humanity. O the horrors of war. A selection of original Civil War correspondence between soldiers from the battlefields and their family members and friends on the homefront. "The battle has been raging all day in the distance and I am unable to ascertain whether any thing has been gained or not. The letters and original writings have been transcribed as written, with no attempt to change spelling. About the Database The Civil War Letters Collection was created with the CONTENTdm software's innovative new program, JPEG 2000, which enables materials to be displayed in a higher quality, more usable online format.
Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions Check out the new Affordable Care Act Tax Provisions Home Page Información en Español: Disposiciones de La Ley del Cuidado de Salud de Bajo Precio Update The open enrollment period to purchase health insurance coverage for 2014 through the Health Insurance Marketplace ran from Oct. 1, 2013, through March 31, 2014. If you are seeking information about how to obtain health care coverage or financial assistance to purchase health care coverage for you and your family, visit the Health and Human Services website, HealthCare.gov. Effect of Sequestration on Small Business Health Care Tax Credit Pursuant to the requirements of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, refund payments issued to certain small tax-exempt employers claiming the refundable portion of the Small Business Health Care Tax Credit under Internal Revenue Code Section 45R, are subject to sequestration. IRC §7216, Disclosure or Use of Information by Tax Return Preparers Medical Loss Ratio (MLR)