Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Thirteen, of course

Tonight, instead of posting, as promised last evening, the story of my recent bus commute, I stared somewhat forlornly at Form after Form and Publication after Publication on the comprehensive website of the United States Internal Revenue Service. Here is my favorite quotation so far this evening from said site:

"The United States income tax is a pay-as-you-go tax."

They can be maddeningly pleasant in their exquisitely subtle sarcasm, these writers. What they're saying here could more bluntly be stated in the following manner (pleasant tone partially retained): "We know what you're thinking, and we made sure we set it up so it wouldn't work out for you the way you're hoping it might, for the reasons you're hoping it might, so sit up and listen because we're about to tell you how it actually is."

And now it's time to tardily begin preparations of the ever delightful chickenless chicken salad. Which reminds me, though it is not actually an EW recipe, Martha appropriated a term today for an avid Eating Well cook: power user. More on that to come, I suspect.

4 comments:

Martha said...

"Power User" I like - abbreviated to "PU" not so much.

megin said...

I can't believe that I have yet to try the aforementioned salad. I have, however, finally unearthed my Fall EW edition. Phew!

Anonymous said...

What? I thought for sure you'd love PU, for its mockerizing.

Jonathan B. said...

I don't know why WE have to "pay as we go." Lord knows the government doesn't. If congress can borrow 5 trillion, I should be able to keep my money until April. I like the edge, Mere. Keep it up.