As the days lengthen, warm weather returns and the sublime signs of Spring show themselves all around us, our thoughts naturally turn to income tax season. If you are in the United […]
Tax Tips for the Law-Abiding Criminal
When FDR Couldn’t Make Sense of His Tax Return
If you have ever wanted to pull your hair out in frustration over the complexity of trying to figure out your income taxes, you are not alone.
Why Nevada Created a County With No People, Buildings, or Roads
Nevada has gained a reputation for converting harsh, barren desert land into thriving tourist destinations. This made its decision to create an empty county that much more curious. The new county had […]
How the Republic of Indian Stream Became a Country Between the United States and Canada
Commonplace Fun Facts loves Canada. We have written about its enlightened policies that have created the only rat-free territory in the world, the establishment of the Global Strategic Maple Syrup Reserve, and […]
Some of the Best Things that Didn’t Get Said
One of the most effective ways to illustrate a point is to use a profound quote from a great historical figure. While there is no shortage of such gems, there are a […]
The Russian Beard Preservation Law, Otherwise Known as the Russkaya Pravda
Facial hair used to be important in Russia. No, you don’t understand. It was REALLY important! We know this because of the Russkaya Pravda (Rus’ Justice or Rus’ Truth), one of the […]
Samuel Johnson’s Dictionary of Disdain
A common word of warning for those who might be inclined to argue with someone who writes or edits a newspaper is, “Never pick a fight with a man who buys ink […]
Why Is This 2-Story Building Home to 285,000 Companies?
There are certain addresses that just about everyone knows because of the wealth or power associated with them. Addresses such as 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue or 10 Downing Street are connected in our […]
How Did a 25-inch Parcel of Land Become New York’s Smallest Piece of Real Estate?
New York City is a place where everything is big. It is the Big Apple. It has enormous skyscrapers. It is the largest city in the United States. Its rental prices are […]
Quirks and Madness at the IRS
As previously noted here, the IRS has a contingency plan for collecting taxes in the event of the end of the world as we know it. Curiously, this is not the strangest […]
Tax Strategies for the Apocalypse
By some miracle, you have survived the disaster that has ushered in the apocalypse. Perhaps it was a nuclear war, asteroid strike, pandemic, or even zombies. Scarcely a month has gone by, […]
The Day Sark Was Invaded by One Man
The island of Sark has many admirable features. It is beautiful, idyllic, and has some of the lowest-priced rental property in the world. Located between Guernsey and Jersey in the Channel Islands, […]
A Prophecy About Income Tax
When a federal income tax was being debated in 1910, Richard E. Byrd (1860-1925), Speaker of the Virginia House of Delegates, made the following prediction about what such a tax would mean. […]
Reagan’s Distinction Between Government and Drunken Sailors
Ronald Reagan was an outspoken critic of excessive taxation. He once summed up his concern about the practice by saying, “The difference in spending habits between government and a drunken sailor is, […]
Some Ticklish-Yet-Taxing Talk About Taxes
Death and taxes are the two certainties of life. In honor of the rapidly-approaching deadline for filing federal income taxes in the United States, we offer the following observations from some notable […]
Commonplace Fun Facts 