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Quietly staying put: Why some Western companies are finding it not so simple to quit Russia

Quietly staying put: Why some Western companies are finding it not so simple to quit Russia

Posted by | Jun 23, 2023

When Russia invaded Ukraine, global companies were quick to respond, some announcing they would get out of Russia immediately, others curtailing imports or new investment. Billions of dollars’ worth of factories, energy holdings and power plants were written off or put up for sale, accompanied by fierce condemnation of the war and expressions of solidarity with Ukraine. More than a year later, it is clear: Leaving Russia was not as simple as the first announcements might have made it seem. Increasingly, Russia has put hurdles in the way of companies that want out, requiring approval by a government commission...

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A very big bullet: Why the 155 mm round is so critical for Ukraine’s effort to end Russian occupation

A very big bullet: Why the 155 mm round is so critical for Ukraine’s effort to end Russian occupation

Posted by | Jun 23, 2023

The 155 mm howitzer round is one of the most requested artillery munitions of the war in Ukraine. Already the U.S. has shipped more than 1.5 million rounds to Ukraine, but Kyiv is still seeking more. A look at why this particular munition is so commonly used, and why it’s been so critical to the war in Ukraine. WHAT IS THE 155 MM? Essentially, the 155 mm round is a very big bullet, made up of four parts: the detonating fuse, projectile, propellant and primer. Each round is about 2 feet (60 centimeters) long, weighs about 100 pounds (45...

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Ending political bribery: What Ukraine can teach America about how to deal with our oligarch problem

Ending political bribery: What Ukraine can teach America about how to deal with our oligarch problem

Posted by | Jun 22, 2023

Viktor Medvedchuk was the Rupert Murdoch of Ukraine. He ran a rightwing television network and owned TV stations across the country, while simultaneously being one of the richest men in that nation. He promoted hate and division, tax cuts for the rich and gutting the Ukrainian social safety net, and supported some of Ukraine’s most toxic politicians. Like many of today’s American oligarchs, he owned hundreds of politicians, who consistently voted in Parliament, state, and local governments to protect his businesses, wealth, and influence. Then came Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who successfully campaigned for president on a Teddy Roosevelt-like anti-corruption platform...

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Evading algorithmic detection: How “algospeak” became the newest version of linguistic subterfuge

Evading algorithmic detection: How “algospeak” became the newest version of linguistic subterfuge

Posted by | Jun 22, 2023

By Roger J. Kreuz, Associate Dean and Professor of Psychology, University of Memphis A linguistic arms race is raging online, and it is not clear who is winning. On one side are social networks like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. These sites have become better and better at identifying and removing language and content that violates their community standards. Social media users are on the other side, and they’ve come up with coded terminology designed to evade algorithmic detection. These expressions are collectively referred to as “algospeak.” New terms like these are just the latest development in the history of...

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Tax Plan: IRS moves forward with pilot program for a free e-filing system in 2024

Tax Plan: IRS moves forward with pilot program for a free e-filing system in 2024

Posted by | Jun 21, 2023

Most taxpayers are interested in filing their taxes directly to the IRS for free, a new report said, and that option will be tested next year. The IRS has spent the past nine months studying whether U.S. taxpayers want to see a free, e-filing system run by the government, and is now preparing to launch a pilot program. The prospect of a free, government-run, online tax filing system has been debated for a long time. Supporters argue that the option would make tax return services more equitable and accessible for taxpayers nationwide. But there is also been pushback from...

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A broken tax policy: How Corporate America is allowed to subsidize the Communist Party of China

A broken tax policy: How Corporate America is allowed to subsidize the Communist Party of China

Posted by | Jun 21, 2023

Why are we using tax policy to subsidize giant American corporations in their dependency relationship with the Communist Chinese dictatorship? For 30 years, American corporations have been helping build China into a massive industrial empire while collapsing manufacturing capacity here in the United States. That country now has a stranglehold on things essential to America, from pharmaceuticals to electronics to consumer goods, all because of a neoliberal fantasy that if we helped them become wealthy through trade they would become more democratic. American politicians in the pocket of big business went along with this bizarre plan to increase corporate...

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