The Many Stories of Diwali Share a Common Theme of Triumph of Justice
On the mythology and meaning of Diwali in different traditions.
The truth about money – in the House of Lords
My old tax justice friend Prof Prem Sikka is now the Noble Lord Sikka, having been sent to the Lords by Jeremy Corbyn. Last week
Read the full article…
One has to judge things by their fruits. And one of the fruits of modern science, clear for all to see, and implicit in the philosophy on which it is based, is the dehumanisation both of man and of the society that he has built in its name. …
The difference between Aleister Crowley and Richard Dawkins is that Crowley had enough self-knowledge to see where his path was leading. It’s why he called himself ‘The Great Beast 666.’ It’s why his books talk of magic as a ‘new science’, and are full of talk of ‘mastery’ over powers natural and supernatural. Crowley was Faust, and Faust is us. The Great Beast has a lot more in common with Pfizer’s finest than they would ever admit.
Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic
White House Presidential Action – “…In light of these facts and circumstances, I have determined that it is in the interests of the United States to move away from the country-by-country restrictions previously applied during the COVID-19 pandemic and to adopt an air travel policy that relies primarily on vaccination to advance the safe resumption of international air travel to the United States. This proclamation governs the entry into the United States of noncitizen nonimmigrants — that is, noncitizens who are visiting the United States or otherwise being admitted temporarily — traveling to the United States by air. It suspends the entry of unvaccinated noncitizen nonimmigrants, except in limited circumstances, and it ensures that the entry of unvaccinated noncitizen nonimmigrants is consistent with applicable health and safety determinations made by the Director of the CDC, including a requirement that, where appropriate, such individuals agree and arrange to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 upon their arrival. My Administration has also taken action, apart from this proclamation, to ensure that noncitizen immigrants are vaccinated prior to air travel to the United States…”
Truth or bear
A Place Like No Other: the mysteries of Suffolk Pink / a new book about Mid-Century British architecture / Berlin U-Bahn Architecture & Design Map (via Wallpaper*) / a review of ‘The Great Beanie Baby Bubble’ by Zac Bissonnette. At one point, ‘Beanie Babies represented 10 percent of eBay’s sales.’ / Twisted Toys want your data / A True Story About Bogus Photos of People Making Fake News / a new documentary about Dinosaur Jr / The 70-Year Evolution of the IKEA Living Room / remembering Steve Jobs / build a virtual replica of a 1950s electronic recording studio / join the Peckham Conker Club / make (a lot of) toast. The more the better.
Jay A. Soled (Rutgers; Google Scholar), Workplace Transformation and Its Tax Compliance Implications, 66 Vill. L. Rev. 575 (2021):
Due to technological advances and the COVID-19 pandemic, taxpayers are increasingly utilizing their homes as a focal point from which to conduct their business affairs. On the one hand, the nation should applaud this workplace transformation insofar as it may enhance job performance and efficiency, reduce product cost and overhead, and improve work–life balance. On the other hand, this transformation process may open the door to rampant tax abuse as taxpayers alone or in collusion with their employers seek to transform home usage into a tax shelter refuge.