IRS should not allow such deductions under the law, but they have made exceptions. Is there a reason? This piece is about a tax court case that was decided in September 2017, regarding surrogacy...
Integrated Wisdom
Eclectic is the best word to describe Integrated Wisdom. Our focus in this section is on ideas, and we cut across an unlimited range of topics — from smoking cigars, to cross-dressing, to problems with education, to name just a few. These articles are interesting and entertaining, but also informative and, we hope, provocative. They will get you thinking, sometimes on stuff you never bothered to think about before.
“Get off the Phone!!”
Are smart phones disrupting the social development of teenagers? by Bill Wood Remember your Mom or Dad screaming: “GET OFF THE PHONE!!” It was a crazy teenaged time when we used the...
Facts on a Plane
What you can learn when there’s so much time and so little to do… Flying across the country to see my grandchildren is a pain in the you know what… But I love my grand-kids. I sit...
The Plight of Medical Marijuana Caregivers
Helping those with legitimate health needs can be risky and dangerous. Marijuana, rather its THC and CBD ingredients, seem to be effective medicines. They’re reported to help with chronic pain...
Suing in Ancient Rome
Satisfaction under the law required nerve, persistence, and ingenuity. Cash also helped. Ancient Rome had an extensive code of laws that covered the full range of legal issues one might face. In...
Playing the Ponies
The psychology of betting on the most exciting two minutes in sports. Ever since I was a kid growing up in Queens, New York, I bet on the horses. As 14 and 15 years olds, my friends and I would sit...
What We Believe
The driving force behind how we act and feel. We tend to think that all our emotions are linked to a specific situation or event, meaning that how we feel is a direct result of what we’re seeing or...
What’s Wrong with Higher Education?
Not only does it cost more, but you may also be getting less for your money. Most of us are aware that higher education has major problems today, but we may not know the extent of these problems, nor...
The Crash of 2008
Understanding the events that led to what almost became the greatest financial crisis in history. Most of us won’t soon forget the financial crisis of 2008. Just like those who lived through...
Cigars and the Ladies
They’re not just for gentlemen…and never were. First, some facts and historical notes… In the tenth century a bored and desperate Mayan grabbed a handful of brown leaves, wrapped...