http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/rss Amiko_Lapikus's latest journal entries Lang-8 Inc. Mon May 28 12:05:42 UTC 2012 Mon May 28 12:05:42 UTC 2012 Lang-8 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Lang-8
For more English practice I've decided to write short conclusions about one or another tax.

So this one is about income tax in the UK, the USA and Russia.

The United Kingdom and the USA have Anglo-Saxon law systems. And their tax systems are directed to social justice. But American tax system is more complicated than British one. Because in the USA taxes are collected in four levels: federal, state and local. But local level has its own system of tax charging. Taxes on the local level can be levied in different ways: on municipal level, county or district level. And in the UK there’re only two levels: federal and local.

Income taxes in the UK and the USA have similar and at the same time different features. Both systems have progressive taxation scale, significant non-taxable minimums and social deductions.

In 2010 the Financial times published an article where it compared effective tax rates in different countries. So in the UK the effective tax rate is bigger than in the USA: 31.5% against 24.3%.

For comparison: in Russia the effective tax rate is 13%. But we don’t have so much non-taxable minimums and our social deductions are very small.


Posted at Fri Jan 06 14:11:34 UTC 2012
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/1255782 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/1255782 Amiko_Lapikus Fri Jan 06 14:11:34 UTC 2012
Posted at Sun Feb 06 13:58:59 UTC 2011
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/797651 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/797651 Amiko_Lapikus Sun Feb 06 13:58:59 UTC 2011 Or I don't make out lyrics in Stereophonics' songs until I read it. But yesterday I listened to Jet (it's an Australian rock-group) and I understood, I think, 60% of their lyrics.
Is it so hard to understand by ear British accent? Or do I just get accustomed to American speech?

Posted at Sun Feb 06 13:11:15 UTC 2011
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/797534 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/797534 Amiko_Lapikus Sun Feb 06 13:11:15 UTC 2011
I overate... as always after my granny's patties...

Posted at Sun Sep 12 12:01:06 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/619425 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/619425 Amiko_Lapikus Sun Sep 12 12:01:06 UTC 2010
Posted at Sun Sep 12 11:05:04 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/619366 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/619366 Amiko_Lapikus Sun Sep 12 11:05:04 UTC 2010


I'm soooooooooo surprised! I've just read about new brand of Russian sportcars!
I've heard long ago, that Nikolai Fomenko (Russian actor, showman and businessman) is keen on sportcars and racing. But I couldn't even imagine, that someday sportcars would be manufactured IN RUSSIA! Just wow =))) Especially it's incredible after our ugly Lada-cars...
N.Fomenko sets up his own automobile plant "Marussia Motors".
By the way, I like the name of the plant "Marussia" - it unites Russian name "Marusya" and at the same time "Russia".
Best wishes to Nikolai Fomenko! Hope, all his plans come true =)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrv0uif7USM&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UFTjNUGzIpc&feature=fvsr

Posted at Sat Sep 11 13:05:39 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/618344 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/618344 Amiko_Lapikus Sat Sep 11 13:05:39 UTC 2010
I bought new books again... o_O
"The catcher in the rye" (by J.D. Salinger), "One flew over the cuckoo's nest" (by Ken Kesey), "35 kilos d'espoir" (by Anna Gavalda) and a breathtaking, captivating, exciting, thrilling, fascinating best-seller of all times The Tax Code of Russian Federation!!! =)))
(...I'll do my best not to sleep when I'll read the tax code...)


Posted at Sat Sep 11 13:02:13 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/618342 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/618342 Amiko_Lapikus Sat Sep 11 13:02:13 UTC 2010
Once the girl from my work gave me to listen to songs which she likes. Among them there were "Pass the buck" and "Maybe tomorrow" by Stereophonics. I was in love with "Pass the buck" from the first listening. Soon I downloaded all Stereophonics' discography...

You know, it happenes often, when you like some songs of some singer, but you absolutely don't like other his songs...

But Stereophonics didn't disappoint me...
I like the group more and more.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2q9_ZEtuTR8&ob=av2n

Posted at Fri Sep 10 19:36:41 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/617619 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/617619 Amiko_Lapikus Fri Sep 10 19:36:41 UTC 2010
I like as classical literature as modern one. But many modern writers can't use beautiful verbal structures, as classical, they don't have their own style. All beauty of a book comes to a "naked" plot: he went there, he did it. I think, modern life style influences it: our pace of life tells upon books - the swifter our life becomes, the quicker events are described. And because of such speed all fascination disappears.

But, anyway, there're a lot of great writers. From books of modern writers, that I've read recently, I really like "The cider house rules" (by John Irving) and "The Matchmaker of Perigord" (by Julia Stuart).
"The cider house rules" is very-very good! The story, the John Irving's style are perfect! He can hold attention scillfully. In the book he didn't make prolonged and boring pauses and passed from one event to another in time. Sometimes he run ahead, and such method added interest.
"The Matchmaker of Perigord" is a very "tasty" book. There're a lot of descriptions of french courses. And even now, when I remember the book it makes my mouth water =)))And also Julia Stuart has really beautiful language! So this book is for gourmets, lovers of France and of unhurried stories. And for people who like enjoying every writer's phrase and who adore hot summers.

Also I love stories about the detective Fandorin (by Boris Akunin), "Seven Days for an Eternity" (by Mark Levy) and "Harry Potter" =)))

From classical writers I adore Jane Austen. Of course her "Pride and prejudice" is one of my favourite books. For me Mr. Darcy is a man of a dream =)))) Especially if he would be with Hugh Jackman's appearance =))))))))))))

I love "Eugene Onegin" (by A. Pushkin) and "A hero of our time" (by M. Lermontov).
Oh, I forgot about "The lord of the rings" - really like it!
And stories about Sherlock Holmes are very interesting!

Since recently I like F.S.Fitzgerald. I read his "Tender is the night", "The great Gatsby" and some short stories.

And what's your favourite book? And why? =)))


Posted at Fri Sep 10 14:31:27 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/617391 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/617391 Amiko_Lapikus Fri Sep 10 14:31:27 UTC 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyKBPo3Wqbk

Posted at Sun Sep 05 19:14:00 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/611826 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/611826 Amiko_Lapikus Sun Sep 05 19:14:00 UTC 2010


Today my Mom bought fabric for new blinds, and now she's sewing them. At the pictures my cat's helping my Mom to make really beautiful blinds!

Actually he's trying to filch a reel of thread and then chew up the thread =))) At a pinch, I think, he would be happy just throw it down on the floor and roll it all over the floor. =)))

Posted at Sun Sep 05 12:48:52 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/611380 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/611380 Amiko_Lapikus Sun Sep 05 12:48:52 UTC 2010
And I've got a bad habit to reserve all that things till the evening.

But today I've already done it =))) And now from all routine things it stays only coaching.

Posted at Sun Sep 05 12:22:23 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/611340 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/611340 Amiko_Lapikus Sun Sep 05 12:22:23 UTC 2010
Posted at Sat Sep 04 15:50:24 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/610438 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/610438 Amiko_Lapikus Sat Sep 04 15:50:24 UTC 2010
As always summer flew without being noticed, but it was very tangible! Because this year it was enormous hot! I even went to work with joy, because there was an air-conditioner =)))
And of course the enormous hot brought forest fires... Some weeks we couldn't breath normally because of smoke...

Then finally we made renovation in our flat.

In July my brother's wife bought a kitten Willie (as a present for her parents) and he lived in our flat (because brother's family has got a dog) until my nephew moved off to the parents (his grandparents) with the kitten. My cat Alf was scandalized by appearance of a new little creature. At first he took big offence at us and didn't go out from a bathroom. Then curiosity won, and he decided to see at the little kitten.

(By the way, at the very moment, Alf is researching a garbage can - it's sooo good, that it's empty. =)) )

Now back to the kitten: Willie without any shame ate all Alf's food and used Alf's toilet. =))))) Initially Alf tried to be friends with him. But they've got too different tempers in spite of they're brothers. Willie is real meteor: he can be in all places at the same time, he always wants to play and he always tries to scramble upon your lap and sleep there. But Alf is calmer and he gets accustomed that all attention is payed to him and only him. How could he bear a young insolent fellow who didn't show any respect to elders???

I suppose, in cat's world (and not only in cat's one =)) ) it's very offended when somebody runs slam-bang to you, jumps on you and tries to make you to fight when you absolutely don't want to do it, and generally you go to a cosy sofa for sleeping... That's how Alf felt while Willie was living with us. Almost two weeks Alf lived on all the highest surfaces where Willie couldn't jump.

Now Willie lives in a very big flat, where he can run, jump and play with all his enthusiasm. His owners always tell us very funny stories about him, and they're happy to having such kitten.

And Alf feels again unique, unimitable and beloved by all.

Posted at Fri Sep 03 21:14:59 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/609528 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/609528 Amiko_Lapikus Fri Sep 03 21:14:59 UTC 2010
Posted at Sun Jun 27 09:24:20 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/535349 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/535349 Amiko_Lapikus Sun Jun 27 09:24:20 UTC 2010
Posted at Sat Jun 26 13:30:12 UTC 2010
]]> http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/534538 http://www.lang-8.com/165902/journals/534538 Amiko_Lapikus Sat Jun 26 13:30:12 UTC 2010