Daily Archives: August 5, 2017

How to Think About the Problem of Corporate Offshore Cash: Lessons from Microsoft – Just Taxes Blog (blog)

Posted: August 5, 2017 at 6:37 am

For a corporation with deeply American roots, Microsoft seems remarkably unable to turn a profit here. Against all odds, the Redmond, Washington-based company continues to claim that virtually all its earnings are in foreign countries. Microsofts latest annual report, released earlier this week, shows that over the past two years, the company enjoyed worldwide income of almost $43 billion. It claims to have earned just 0.3 percent of that$128 millionin the United States.

The most obvious explanation for Microsofts comparatively small U.S. profits is that it can avoid virtually all U.S. income taxes by pretending its profits are being earned in tax havens. The company now discloses a total of $142 billion in permanently reinvested foreign earningsan increase of $18 billion in the last yearand reports it would pay a tax rate of 31.7 percent if these profits were repatriated. This means that the company is currently avoiding a stunning $45 billion in taxes by holding its money offshore.

The tax rate that the company reports it would pay on repatriation is what makes its claim that it is earning virtually all of its money offshore suspicious. Foreign profits are subject to the 35 percent federal corporate tax rate minus any taxes paid to foreign governments. This means Microsoft has paid a foreign tax rate of just over 3 percent on these offshore earnings.

Countries in which corporate tax rates are in the low single digits tend to be Caribbean beach islands with small populations that are notably devoid of Microsoft manufacturing facilities. The idea that Microsoft would be earning larger profits in these small nations than in the United States is far-fetched, to say the least. Its far more likely that these allegedly-offshore cash hoards, on which they have paid little or no tax to any government, likely never left U.S. shores to begin with.

What to do about Microsoft and other corporations offshore cash is becoming a flashpoint as congressional leaders pivot from health care to tax reform. Collectively, corporations have at least $2.6 trillion stashed offshore. If these profits were repatriated under current tax rules, it could mean $700 billion in tax revenue. GOP leaders, however, tend to describe the situation as a case of corporate leaders desperate to reinvest their foreign earnings domestically (and therefore in need of a special low-tax holiday to encourage them to do so). Others argue that much of these offshore profits are properly attributable to the United States and are being shifted offshore purely to avoid taxation, and argue that a tax holiday would reward this bad behavior.

Microsofts latest earnings announcement offers strong circumstantial evidence in favor of the tax avoidance view.

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Baltimore residents plea for 3-day ceasefire from violence – CBS News

Posted: at 6:35 am

BALTIMORE -- Last week, the number of homicides in Baltimore surpassed 200, making 2017 a record-setting year for violence on the city's streets.

As the body count rises, the police department has reassigned 150 officers to the city's most dangerous areas, but is still struggling to curb the bloodshed amid internal turmoil and mounting criticism. Mayor Catherine Pugh said she's developed a plan to stop the violence, but hasn't yet made it public.

In the meantime, Baltimore residents are taking matters into their own hands, proposing a 72-hour cease fire that would go into effect Friday and last at least through Sunday.

Erricka Bridgeford, a professional conflict mediator in Baltimore, is one of the organizers of the cease-fire, whose motto is "Nobody Kill Anybody."

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Bridgeford says no individual or organization alone has taken credit for the event, and that's intentional: That way, she said, it belongs to every single Baltimore resident.

The idea is to persuade shooters to put down their guns for three whole days, and remember what it feels like to make a positive decision for themselves, and for their city.

"We understand that this is not what normal should be, and we deserve something better," Bridgeford said. "Looking at each other and saying, 'We deserve peace, for three whole days' - that's powerful."

Bridgeford is no stranger to the effect of violence on communities: She first saw someone shot and killed when she was just 12 years old.

"I heard shots that woke me up out of my sleep (when) my friend Mike was shot. I saw him on the blacktop, I heard him crying not to let him die," she said. "I went to funerals all through high school."

She's lost friends and cousins to gunshots, she said. "So many cousins."

As James Evans, a Baltimore-based advertising executive, watched the body count in Baltimore skyrocket earlier this year, he thought he might be able to help. How? By reaching the unreachable: those most likely to pick up a gun and pull the trigger.

Erricka Bridgeford cries at the "Stop the Violence" rally at the intersection of Edmondson Avenue and Wildwood Parkway during the 72 hour community-led Baltimore Ceasefire against gun violence in Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. August 4, 2017.

Reuters / Sait Serkan Gurbuz

Evans' firm, Illume, is behind the "Stop Shooting, Start Living" slogan used by a local chapter of the community-based anti-violence organization Safe Streets. Now, he's trying to combat the bloodshed with an advertising campaign.

As he does with any campaign, Evans said he treats his anti-violence pitch like a product he's selling. He said he's conducted focus groups with victims, active shooters and drug dealers to try to figure out how best to market the message. In one video, a fight breaks out and a man opens fire on a group, only to have his infant daughter caught in the crossfire.

"Humanizing the victims is really important," Evans said. "People talk about Baltimore city and crime, and they talk about it in the voice of fear, not the voice of empathy. The voice of fear suggests that crime just exists here, not that victims exist here.

"We're incentivizing kids not to become criminals in the first place. You could go from being a hardworking citizen, lose your temper, do the wrong thing and become a criminal in five seconds. When you're 18, you're living in an underserved community, you're frightened all the time. People don't understand how quickly these kids need to react. That is what we're trying to do: empathize with these young guys, and say, 'We understand that your situation is challenging; don't make it more so.'"

Evans created the campaign after discussing the idea with Daniel Webster, the director of Johns Hopkins Center for Gun Policy and Research.

Tyree Colion is on a mission to convert areas of gun violence into "No Shoot Zones."

He tries to create what he calls "invisible force fields" against violence by spray-painting messages on buildings and other structures where violence has occurred.

Those most likely to pick up guns recognize these zones and neutral areas: They respect the space, he says.

The messages "stop shootings, first and foremost," Colion said. "At worst, it looks like graffiti. But to different gangs, they know what this means: 'I don't fear police, I don't respect anything else, but I respect this.'"

He's christened 27 such zones in Baltimore city. The fatal shooting of a 13-year-old girl Tuesday is what brought him across the line into Baltimore County for the first time.

He'd come to paint a brick wall behind a convenience store, near where the shooting had taken place.

The paint hadn't even begun to dry when four police cars and six uniformed officers showed up on the scene. The wall Colion had painted was privately owned, they said. Colion insisted he'd gotten permission from a store owner. After 20 minutes of back and forth, Colion was arrested and charged with destruction of property.

"You can't stop this," Colion said to an officer as he was being handcuffed, pointing his chin toward a memorial to the girl set up on a staircase and decorated with teddy bears and a big bunch of balloons.

"I can."

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Mars Rover Wrapping Up US Tour To Showcase Future Of Space Travel – CBS Miami

Posted: at 6:35 am

August 4, 2017 4:46 PM

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CAPE CANAVERAL (CBSMiami) The Kennedy Space Centers Mars rover is wrapping up its U.S. tour. The concept vehicle shows what a manned Mars rover might look like.

Carter and Marshall Demars got their first taste of the future of space travel meeting former astronaut Mike Massimino and getting up close to a prototype of NASAs newest Mars rover.

The size of the rover is just humongous. I thought it would be one of those puny rovers, but its just so big, said Marshall.

The nearly three-ton monster mobile looks like its made for Hollywood, but its meant for the Red Planet.

(Source: CBS Newspath)

NASA engineers did, in fact, team up with movie props designers to create the 11-feet high, 24-feet long vehicle.

Since it wont ever really travel to the Mars, the mission here is earthbound.

I think the major purpose of it is probably to create excitement, get ideas going, get people excited about going, said Massimino.

With six massive wheels, it can only travel up to 6 mph.

The rover has four seats in the front and drives like an SUV. Theres detachable lab where astronauts can do experiments.

Massimino says the challenge in sending people to mars is the cost.

The Kennedy Space Center funded this rover, but it doesnt have the expensive life support needed to make a months-long trip possible.

To ensure a safe journey and a safe return of people is really expensive and thats going to take a budget, a commitment from government that is very significant, said Massimino.

Marshall says hes game to be the first man on Mars.

Ive always been the guy that wants to discover things, so I would go for sure, he said.

And hes just the right age. NASA hopes to send a man or woman to mars around the year 2030.

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Ascension 4-Hers Master their Project Area – Weekly Citizen

Posted: at 6:32 am

Record keeping is an important life skill for youth to attain. Many Ascension 4-Hers are working hard to create, maintain and update their records through writing and pictures, which helps 4-Hers to track their activities and experiences, set and achieve personal goals and aids in building resumes and scholarship applications.

This school year, over 130 4-Hers mastered their 4-H project area by setting and completing personal and project goals, completing their 4-H projects outlined tasks, recording their efforts and achievements, both in and out of 4-H, and submitting their completed 4-H portfolios and project books for the Ascension 4-H parish record book competition. Of those participating, 26 youth earned blue ribbon awards, with 10 record books being sent on to compete in the State 4-H Record Book competition.

The 4-Hers earning a blue ribbon in the Ascension Parish 4-H Record Book Competition were Katelyn Frank, Stacey Kloosterman, Seth Amedee, Kylie Cliburn, Ben Clingfost, Jenna Einsel, Hannah Godchaux, Alyssa Hymel, Ava Klieferle, Abby Lobell, Karlie Lobell, Walker Morrill, Avery Robinson, Ava Surla, Hannah Woodring, Case Bastin, Bryce Binning, Brodie Bourgeois, Shawn Comminey, Grace Ostermiller, Anthony Comeaux, Anna Frazier, Brady Houston, Allie Cliburn and Kinslei Scroggs.

The 10 following 4-Hers from Ascension Parish for being selected to move on to the State 4-H Record Book Competition: Seth Amedee, Kylie Cliburn, Katelyn Frank, Hannah Godchaux, Stacey Kloosterman, Abby Lobell, Kinslei Scroggs, Racheal Stewart, Alex Sullivan and Ava Surla.

The State 4-H Record Book winners from Ascension Parish 4-H were as follows:

National 4-H Congress Trip Award Winner to Atalnta, GA- Stacey Kloosterman

Seventh and eighth Grade Achievement Award Winners for the Louisiana Educational Trip to New Orleans and Baton Rouge- Kylie Cliburn; fifth alternate- Racheal Stewart; eighth Alternate- Abby Lobell

Sixth Grade Achievement Blue ribbon winners- Seth Amedee, Katelyn Frank, Ava Surla

Jr. Wildlife Tour Educational Trip to Grand Isle, LA- Kinseli Scroggs, Eighth Alternate- Hannah Godchaux

Superintendents Livestock Award Blue ribbon winner- Kylie Cliburn

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Ascension School System ventilating ‘T’ buildings at flooded schools – WBRZ

Posted: at 6:32 am

ASCENSION PARISH- Ascension Parish School System leaders announced temporary buildings at four Ascension Parish Schools are being ventilated after volunteers and teachers complained of throat and eye irritation from a strong ammonia like odor. The complaints came when the buildings were getting prepped for students.

The buildings are located at Galvez Middle, Galvez Primary, Lake Elementary and St. Amant High.

Superintendent David Alexander said the ventilation is being done to rid the odor in the buildings. It was initially discovered at Galvez and Lake Elementary, but the School System decided to do ventilation at St. Amant as a precaution.

Balloon like plastic bags were installed to the windows of the T Buildings after environmentalists, air quality and engineering experts tested the buildings. They were consulted about the mysterious odor, that remains unidentified at this time. The School System said it's not harmful, despite people complaining of the throat and eye irritation.

Parents like Jessica Dufour want to make sure schools are safe for children when they return from summer break next week.

"That worries me," Dufour said. "They are just finding it out? Will it be safe for Wednesday when they start for school?"

Right now, Dufour is also troubled that the School System did not send out notices to the parents to let them know what was going on.

"I'm concerned that I had to find out through the media instead of the school contacting me to let me know what was going on," Dufour said.

Ascension Parish School Leaders were unavailable for an interview, but Superintendent David Alexander said the students' safety is their top priority. He said since the ventilation began, the smell is no longer there, and all will be re-tested before school begins.

The School System provided the following statement:

"While preparing for the return of school, we learned that some of the new temporary buildings that were closed with little to no air conditioning running during the hot summer accumulated a strong odor. We immediately engaged the manufacturer, air quality and engineering experts to assess the issue. As the odor was not present in temporary buildings that were used regularly over the summer, it is believed to be a buildup of new construction smells normally vented out from regular use. Although assessments revealed no dangerous levels in the classrooms, crews are currently venting the buildings to remove the odor and all buildings will be tested by environmental experts before the start of school."

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Ascension Parish Council begins to live stream meetings on YouTube – The Advocate

Posted: at 6:32 am

Ascension Parish took another step into the virtual age when the Parish Council meeting in Donaldsonville was live-streamed through YouTube on Thursday night.

Ascension Parish President Kenny Matassa said the council going forward will live-stream all council and committee meetings. That will come in addition to existing cable-access broadcasts and video replays already posted on YouTube.

Matassa said the mark of open and transparent government is keeping pace with technological advancements.

As more people cut the cable cord and turn to video streaming services, we want to ensure the public continues to have access to council meetings, Matassa said in a statement.

Martin McConnell, parish government spokesman, said Friday that parish workers live-streamed the councils previous meeting in Gonzales in July as a test run, and it worked well. Thursdays meeting was no different, he said.

They did live stream, and it was successful, McConnell said.

Parish government began operating the Ascension 21 cable access channel in 2006. The channel appears on Eatel and Cox Cable.

Live-streaming can be reached at http://www.youtube.com/ascensionparish Viewers should press subscribe and will be notified when meetings are live-streaming or have been archived on YouTube.

Follow David J. Mitchell on Twitter, @NewsieDave.

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Topeka children’s imaginations take flight at the Exploration Mars Space Camp – Topeka Capital Journal

Posted: at 6:31 am

The open-mouthed wow factor that space travel creates was brought to children in East Topeka this week as part of a Space Camp that included meeting NASA professional Herb Baker and former NFL football player Joe Mays.

Kia McClain, a Topekan chosen last year to be a social media influencer for NASAs Mars journey, reached out to the Neighborhood Opportunity for Wellness program to bring the space event to the Highland Park neighborhoods.

More than 100 kids showed up from the NOW initiative neighborhoods at Deer Creek, Pine Ridge Manor and Echo Ridge when the camp started this week, McClain said.

(My favorite part of camp) has been trying on the space outfit from the astronaut that came out, camper LaDaysha Baird said. I like to dress up.

The camp was supported by multiple agencies, McClain said, including United Way of Greater Topeka. In her work with NASA, McClain reached out to Baker, who retired from NASA after 42 years working in operation support, most often at the Johnson Space Center.

For Baker, it was a joy to share his love of NASA and space.

My whole life almost has been involved with NASA, he said, explaining that even before pursuing a career there, he went to middle school near Johnson and his friends had parents who went to space. His friends who were astronauts talk about the first time they were intrigued by the idea of becoming astronauts.

There might be one kid here who gets to put that spacesuit on and it changes their lives, Baker said. Thats kind of what Im hoping for.

A real NASA spacesuit and the opportunity to try it on was just one of many events that occurred during the five-day evening camp.

For McClain, a social media expert, the camp gave her the chance to share her own excitement about her NASA connection with children, and she did so by reaching out to numerous partners. Two of those were Joe and Toiya Mays who own the Laya Center in Kansas City, Mo., a holistic spa that has been working with THA around community gardens and aquaponics.

One of the kids favorite events was when Toiya Mays showed them how knowledge of natural health can be used to create medicines and foods, McClain said. For instance, the kids were able to learn about making a natural cough medicine by putting elderberries in 90-proof alcohol or making natural Hawaiian Punch using hibiscus flowers.

Joe Mays shared about the rigorous training and healthy eating necessary to playing in the NFL, and how that same type of fitness would be important for astronauts, McClain said.

The children were wonderful little sponges that were open to not only learning how technology relates to healthcare, but were intrigued by a healthier way of life, Toiya Mays said. We explained the importance of maintaining good eating habits and how eating fruits and veggies is a direct link to energy in a holistic way. They had fun showing us their Pucker Faces during the lime &energy test where we showed a video of the actual electricity currents that come from a Key lime.

The Mays also helped set up a hibernation chamber simulator, where they created a small nook blocked off by cardboard and cooled by a portable cryotherapy machine the Laya Center uses.

This cooled the room and made it similar to what astronauts would experience during a 4-8 month trip to Mars, Toiya Mays said. It was a huge hit!

Although the official space camp portion of the event is over, McClain is working with the NOW program, United Way and THA to continue events weekly throughout the year.

Its the kick-off to major opportunities involving NASA, involving all of these partners that are at the table and just creating future opportunities for the children to go far beyond Topeka, McClain said.

Online editor J.C. Reeves contributed to this report.

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Letter: The Final Frontier’s greatest impact – Peoria Journal Star

Posted: at 6:31 am

William G. Bessler

A few weeks ago, like millions of other Americans, I attended a local Fourth of July parade and later watched the fireworks. While wandering around both events, something struck me that no controversial parade float could match.

It was subtle. In fact, without an interest in the subject, most people would have missed it entirely. Countless children were proudly wearing a shirt with the NASA logo or a space shuttle design. This observation persuades me to urge a robust American space policy.

Although finding the exact payoff for every dollar spent on NASA has been elusive, many economic studies show a positive return. NASA projects typically demand people with advanced skills in science and technology, thus supporting thousands of high-paying jobs. With nearly $20 billion spent on NASA per year, those dollars support communities across the country. Even places without a NASA facility have businesses designing or creating parts for Americas space effort.

Thousands of NASA spinoff technologies have dramatically changed the health care, information technology and communication fields.

Yet the economic, technological and scientific advances pale in comparison to the intangible benefits of space exploration. Space inspires children across the globe to become the next generation of thinkers and innovators. Many inspired by space exploration pursue careers in STEM fields, bringing valuable skills to space centers, businesses, factories and farmlands across America. Exploring the final frontier also impresses the value of working together toward a common goal that is bigger than any individual. Rugged individualism does not typically lead to great triumphs, but collective action does.

As I watched the Independence Day fireworks, I couldn't help but wonder how many of those kids wearing a NASA shirt would help enable economic prosperity, a scientific breakthrough or exploration of a distant world someday.

William G. Bessler

Bartonville

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Iran ranks 22 in nanotech patent publication – Mehr News Agency – English Version

Posted: at 6:31 am

One way to evaluate the progress trend of the countries active in nanotechnology is the overall analysis of patent documents. In this case, the number of annually published patents in the field of nanotechnology can be deemed as one of the most significant indicators.

In accordance with the definition supposed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO/TS 18110) in 2015, the inventions whose one of claims is at least related to nanotechnology or named with one of the nanotechnology-related classification codes in the International Classification of Patents (IPCs) such as B82, are known as nanotechnology patents. Two of the world's most authentic patent publication offices include USPO and Europe Patent Office (EPO) by which more than half of the nanotechnology-oriented inventions are published throughout the world.

According to INIC's report based on theStatNanos reportfrom the patent database Orbit, in the first six months of 2017, nearly 6400 applications have been recorded by USPO and EPO for the nanotechnology-related patents, whereas 5525 cases are published by USPO.

More than half of these applications, i.e. 2814 cases are owned by the US companies and innovators. After the US as a front-runner, South Korea, Japan, Taiwan and China have also obtained the next statuses, respectively.

In addition, Germany and France have been ranked sixth and seventh. The presence of four countries from East Asia among the top five countries in this categorization indicates that most of East Asian's inventors and assignees pay more attention to the US nanotechnology market than other countries.

In 2017, Iran has published 13 applications for nanotechnology patents at USPTO and ranked 22nd among innovative countries, i.e. a one-step climb in its global ranking compared to the last year. It is noteworthy that in 2017, about a quarter ofIran's total published patent applications are related toNanotechnology. In 2016, Iran has been ranked 23rdat USPTO by publishing 27 patent applications and 10 granted nanotechnology patents.

MS/PR

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WW3 preparations? Putin holds huge drill with 8000 troops over North Korea & US war fears – Express.co.uk

Posted: at 6:30 am

TassGetty

Russia held the "combat readiness check" as global tensions rose rapidly after Kim Jong-un claimed scientists had created a missile which could hit all major US cities.

The drill involved 8,000 troops, 50 warplanes and 3,000 pieces of military kit in Russia's eastern Transbaikal region, just 1,300 miles from its border with North Korea.

Mr Putin held the drill over fears the US is ready to strike North Korea following the hermit kingdom's latest long-range missile test on Friday.

US ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, said Washington will not seek UN Security Council action as "the time for talk is over".

She said: "North Korea is already subject to numerous Security Council resolutions that they violate with impunity."

The US also accused Russia of bearing "unique and special responsibility" for North Korea.

US President Donald Trump then hit out at China, accusing Beijing, Pyongyang's sole ally, of doing "nothing" for the US over North Korea.

Getty Images

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A Chinese warship operates a live-fire drill during the Joint Sea 2017 in Baltic Sea

He tweeted: "I am very disappointed in China.

"Our foolish past leaders have allowed them to make hundreds of billions of dollars a year in trade, yet they do NOTHING for us with North Korea, just talk.

"We will not longer allow this to continue.

"China could easily solve this problem!"

Getty

Mr Putin shortly after gave the command to carry out the major drill near the North Korea border.

In a statement, the Russian Defence Ministry said: "During the combat readiness check, the personnel of one of the motor-rifle units of the combined-arms army deployed to the Transbaikal region marched for 150 kilometers and crossed the Onon River.

"During the march, Mil Mi-24 attack helicopters covered military hardware."

Getty

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe placed further responsibility on Russia today during a phone conversation with Mr Trump.

He said: "We have made consistent efforts to resolve the North Korean problem in a peaceful manner, but North Korea has ignored that entirely and escalated the situation in a one-sided way.

"The international community, starting with China and Russia, must take this obvious fact seriously and increase pressure."

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