Is It Just Me?

[gnomi]

OK, so Toscanini's has been shut down for non-payment of taxes.

As Bostonist reports,

Aside from the word "SEIZED" in huge typeface, the sign read: "Seized for nonpayment of taxes and is now in possession of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

So, here's my problem. Am I the only one who thinks that "in possession of" is misused? To me, that says that Toscanini's now owns the Commonwealth.

...or maybe it's just me.

Comments

[anahcrow.livejournal.com]

It's not just you. I think it should be "in THE possession of".

[mabfan.livejournal.com]

It's just you. :-) Narf!

[tikvah.livejournal.com]

It's not just you, but narf anyway. ;-)

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

No, that's how I read it too -- does that mean I can punt on my obligations and be awarded with a commonwealth or state of my choosing?

[celli]

*hands you Illinois*

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

Wonderful! I've always been fond of Chicago...

And hey, I couldn't do any worse than the Daley's -- let my benign dictatorship begin!

[lisafeld.livejournal.com]

I want Jersey!

[aunt-becca.livejournal.com]

this is the funniest icon ever!

[cbpotts.livejournal.com]

I'd never thought I'd ever hear anyone say that sentence! (once a New Yorker, always a New Yorker...)

Hands you New Jersey.

[tikvah.livejournal.com]

When I gank, I only gank the best. :-)

[madknits.livejournal.com]

Toscaninni's is closed?
*gasp!*
Wherever will I get black plum ice cream?
O woe, o tragedy.
O Spite, O hell.

It should be And is now in the possession of...
But the writer assumes that the reader will assume that what is possessed is what was seized.

[anahcrow.livejournal.com]

Ah, internet justice. One grammar slip and the queer porn writers are divvying up the country. How fragile the safe, sane, heterosexual nation truly is. The Right was right!

(No, I did NOT manage to write that 'safe, sane, het' part with a straight face. Sorry.)

[lisafeld.livejournal.com]

Well, I grew up in Princeton, which I'm told isn't really New Jersey, but has left me with a fondness for the place. *g*

Plus, Empress of the Garden State has a nice ring to it...

[ephemera.livejournal.com]

exactly!

[dpolicar]

tritto

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

so now you get awarded a state when you don't pay your taxes? that's pretty impressive.

(yeah, "in the possession of". someone at bostonist wasn't paying attention.)

[half-double.livejournal.com]

I love it! Evade your taxes and get a state. The IRS could put this to excellent use.

AGENT: Sir, you haven't paid your taxes in ten years.
EVADER: What are you gonna do - fine me?
AGENT: No, sir. We're going to...give you Ohio.
EVADER: NOOOOOOOO! Please, have mercy, no! Take my back taxes! Take them all! ::wimpers::

[tygerseye.livejournal.com]

Excuse me, but some of heart New Jersey :P

*stomps off in a huff*

*followed closely by a cloud of polution*

[tygerseye.livejournal.com]

Hey, me too! Where are you now?

[tygerseye.livejournal.com]

Yup. *nod* But I'd have missed it if she hadn't pointed it out. LOL

[violetcheetah.livejournal.com]

Does this mean that Tosci's is now on the hook for Massachusetts' deficit? If so, they're doomed?

HAH!

[lyonessnyc.livejournal.com]

I want to gank it toooooo! Please?

Re: HAH!

[tikvah.livejournal.com]

I see no reason not to. I don't know who made it originally.

narf

[lyonessnyc.livejournal.com]

It's not just you.

It should be "in THE possession of the" without the caps of course.

Is this the print version, or the online version?

I want to default on my taxes and be in possession of the State of New York. Whoo hoo! Oh, the changes I'd make!

Then again, I don't know if I want to open that can of worms. :)

[gardendoor.livejournal.com]

Oh, neat! I'm in NYC at the moment. You?

[tygerseye.livejournal.com]

Still in Princeton. I've been all over the place and ended up coming back.

[farwing.livejournal.com]

Oh no, it's not just you! I am, after all, in possession of four new pairs of shoes. I wear the shoes, the shoes do not wear me!

I think if Massachusetts were run by a yummy ice cream place that would be super...yummy.

[gnomi.livejournal.com]

psst! you switched accounts here. just fyi

[lisafeld.livejournal.com]

Whoops! Thanks for the heads up. *blush*

[rivkaesque.livejournal.com]

Not just you.

Tosci's is closed? Waaah!

Darn it, everything important was supposed to stay the same 'till i could move back.