It is a peculiar feeling to know with certainty that something big is about to happen to you. This week we watch people go right up to the edge of inevitable change. We hear from preteens about the terrifying knowledge that puberty is about to happen...any minute now. And true to the death and taxes saying, we found it unavoidable to include a story about each one of those things.
Note: In the Internet version of Act One, we leave some curse words un-bleeped. You can find a bleeped version here.
Prologue
Death
Taxes
Al Drucker used to work for the IRS doing tax enforcement. One thing he found really helpful in the job was when someone from the public would give a tip on who he should look into. So when Al retired from the IRS five years ago, he created taxsqueal.com, a website where you can anonymously rat out your neighbors, exes and friends to the IRS. (13 1/2 minutes)
Related
Act Two: Don’t Need to Know Basis
Act Three: Istanbul
Act One: Truth, Damn Truth And Statistics
Staff Recommendations
Kindness of Strangers
A locksmith tells the story of an act of kindness he committed, hoping for a small reward. That, and other stories of kindness in New York City.
How I Got Into College
How a stolen library book got one man into his dream school and changed his life forever. Or at least that's the story he tells himself.