For the last 20 years or so, my ridiculously judgmental and inevitably correct alter ego – The Grammar Phantom – has fought a lonely battle to expose and shame those who mangle the language, both written and spoken, including but not limited to: First degree apostrophe … [Read more...]
Archives for August 2016
The weekly Auchtoon: So it turns out infrastructure matters
There is nothing quite as annoying as the overenthusiastic zeal that comes with the recently discovered — especially when it has been commonly known and readily accessible for years and years. So I apologize in advance, but, OHMYGOSH, YOU GUYS! HAVE YOU SEEN THE SOO LOCKS?! THEY … [Read more...]
What part of ‘Don’t clog the left lane’ don’t you understand?
As a longtime commuter (six years of driving more than 60 miles to work and another 60 home), I'm here to tell you that I am positively thrilled about Michigan State Police officially reminding folks about the laws of driving in the passing lane. And the law is "don't." Don't … [Read more...]
Here’s why lakes are better than oceans
During my annual summer week up north, I saw a T-shirt that said “The Great Lakes – no salt, no sharks, no problems.” I could have written that myself. I’ve always thought the Great Lakes – in fact, all freshwater lakes – are vastly superior to the ocean. A big part of it … [Read more...]
This week’s Auchtoon: Maybe regulations aren’t so bad after all
In the cartoon series South Park, there is a classic episode titled "Gnomes." In that episode, a high-strung, over-caffeinated boy named Tweek is freaked out when gnomes repeatedly sneak into his bedroom at night to steal his underpants from his dresser. Tweek tells his fellow … [Read more...]
