retroactive exit-cats Watercolored by birthday Militia
I trust that you are well and happy this week and looking forward to celebrating Whit Monday/Pentecost (in Europe) and Memorial Day (in America). If you’re in Asia or Africa, at least I hope you enjoy a full week of work. If you’re in Antarctica, I suspect that it is very dark (and cold). And finally, if you’re in Australia, not only are you far, far away, but the weather is always beautiful, so I’m sure you’re happy.
Aside: The Martin Family is also celebrating Mitra’s birthday. Nazy and I are sorry that we’ll miss the undoubted dancing and celebrations in Los Angeles. We are looking forward to seeing her in July. (You can see some early Mitra photos throughout this update.)
Our celebrations are augmented by excitement. Nazy’s website has become a big success. In fact:
“People want to purchase my watercolors,” Nazy enthused.
“That’s great,” I replied. “My website design did the trick. I just wish my book was moving that fast.” I thought as I explained the situation to Darius.
“Remember when Melika got a medal at the her first chess tournament, Dar?”
“She was on the B-Team Dad. I was an A-Team player.”
“But your team didn’t get a medal and you were upset.”
“I’ve thought about that and I don’t understand why I was so upset.”
“I do, Dar,” I mumbled - wondering whether I was ‘A-team’ or ‘B-Team’.
Our celebrations were augmented by excitement and danger. It involved the ex-patriot tax proposal of two US senators. I explained the situation to Nazy.
“They want to establish a retroactive tax on people who renounce US citizenship.”
“Retroactive? Isn’t that..”
“.. unfair? Of course! It’s just like changing the speed limit after the radar gun.
“Didn’t that happen to us in Pagosa Springs, Colorado?”
“Not exactly. They hid the 25MPH speed limit sign behind a tree on the side of a divided highway. But it is similar. Of course, ‘fairness’ is not a requirement for legislation.”
“I see.”
“And it gets worse. The retroactive tax applies for 10 years and, if they apply it to you, then you have to prove that you didn’t give up your citizenship to avoid taxes.”
“You mean ‘they have to prove’...”
“No. You have to prove.”
“How can you prove what you thought?”
“Precisely. Then you have to pay whatever ‘they’ calculate and pay the ‘exit’ tax. After that, you’re never permitted to re-enter the USA.”
“Exit tax? Is that legal?”
“It’s been used before.”
“Where?”
“People leaving Austria after the Nazi Anschluss in the 30‘s had to pay an exit tax.”
“So there is a historical precedent?”
“I, too, was surprised to discover that a US Senator knew about historical precedents. Of course, the person it’s aimed at, Eduardo Saverin, the co-founder of Facebook...
“Is Eduardo the guy that Zuckerberg tried to cheat? Wait! They aimed it at one person?”
“One person because the senator can’t keep two thoughts in mind simultaneously. In this case, Eduardo had already paid the money that the deluded senator wanted to confiscate. He may even get a refund since the Facebook IPO tanked.”
“Did the IPO fail because a nefarious plot by Zuckerberg?”
“Perhaps, but the investment banks are also complicit: they downgraded estimates and shared that information with some of their clients. It’s not illegal; it’s just standard slime.”
So, excitement and danger was widespread. Meanwhile in Lebanon, Darius had challenges:
“.. and we had to leave the Sidon chess tournament early because of clashes between the pro and anti Assad elements,” he explained.
“What happened?”
“They were setting up roadblocks and deploying soldiers.”
“Which soldiers?”
“That was hard to tell. The army was involved, but many of the professional militias and lot of semi-pros and amateurs also showed up. They set tires on fire in major intersections.”
“Tires?”
“A burning tire smells pretty bad.”
“This was in Sidon, right?”
“Yep. But they also did it in Tripoli..”
“Libya?”
“Tripoli, Lebanon.”
“I’m glad you live in Beirut.” I replied. “Sometimes I wish it Beirut, Kentucky,” I thought.
“Me too. I’m also glad that I’m going to spend the summer in California.”
“California?”
“Right. I’m going to learn the Tango - at the best school in the world: Oxygen Tango.”
“At least you won’t have to worry about roadblocks and..”
“Have you driven on the 405, Dad? or...”
“ ... and militias.”
“... ... or dealt with the TSA?”
And finally, Melika has a new cat. She was going to call it Pembleton, but..
“Tom wanted it to be named: Tom Adams III.”
“After his father?”
“After himself. He’s a family man. We use the nickname Tom Tom.”
“To avoid confusion?”
“Right.”
“If the cat is Tom Adams III, just call it Tom Tom Tom. By the way what will Tom do if he has a son?”
“That’s easy: Tom Adams IV.”
“As long as he’s got a plan.”
Note: the picture below is of Tom Tom Tom
blog comments powered by Disqus