The Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar (SPOGG) is a kindred spirit in the War on Error. In their own words, “SPOGG is for people appalled by bad grammar in public spaces. The blog calls out goofs by celebrities, politicians, marketers, and more. The Society for the Promotion of Good Grammar is the founder of National Grammar Day.”
Oh, AP . . . Thank You!
You fixed “muddy farmer’s field” but left “smashing into three pieces.” Smashed into three pieces of what?
"Do You Speak American?"
I’ve always loved Public Broadcasting System (PBS). From “This Old House” to “Antiques Roadshow” to “NOVA,” there’s usually something interesting on the schedule. A new (to me) program—”Do You Speak American”—takes a look at the different ways that Americans speak from Maine lobstermen to California surfers. It features celebrated journalist and writer Robert MacNeil in his first public television documentary since 1995 and is a celebration of Americans as seen—and heard—through the way we speak. It’s a fascinating show for the soldiers in the War on Error. Check out the companion website if you have any spare time.
What Does This Mean?
My condolences to the Camerons. And to this story’s writer(s).
Publishing a Blog Exposes You to a World of Criticism
On 3 February, I posted on The Truth About Cars a piece informing the site’s visitors that I wished to create a style guide for that site. I wanted to know what certain terms visitors thought we should use in the reviews of cars. For example, should the site always use “torques” when listing an engine’s torque rating (à la Jeremy Clarkson) or stick with the technically correct, but boring, pound-feet or lb/ft? I asked how we should denote horsepower: capital or lowercase “HP”; should we use bhp; etc. I asked if—for the benefit of the site’s many foreign visitors—we should include metric equivalents. I had no idea the shitstorm this would create.
Negative Hallucinations
Once upon a time, I spent ten years as a hypnotist. I offered the standard watch swinging services: weight loss, smoking cessation, confidence, phobias, etc. Unlike my colleagues, I had no interest in talking about my client’s mother. Sit down, shut up, I hypnotize you, you achieve your goal or you don’t. For those who didn’t, I never deployed the industry standard accountability chaff: “I’m a great hypnotist but you’re a lousy subject.” I based my work on the Stanford Hypnotic Susceptibility Scale. I’d hypnotize a client, and then work my way through the Scale’s twelve graduated tests—until the client either “failed” a test or achieved the weird ass dozen. It was no-fault hypnosis; given my abilities and yours, this is where you fall on the scale and here’s what I can do for you. All major credit cards accepted.