poorly executed conga line?

Left by ckc (not kc) on July 26th, 2010

That may call for a body language expert.

Left by M. Bouffant on July 26th, 2010

Apparently MeganHusband has learned to keep his eyes strictly straightforward, lest Megan assume he is rolling them heavenward.

And I’m pretty sure that expression is exactly what we’d have seen on Angela Merkel’s face had she felt she couldn’t kick George Bush’s ass three ways in seven minutes.

Left by D. Sidhe on July 26th, 2010

“No, really, it matters,” I insisted. “If you’re talking about something that can be counted individually, like dollars or pizzas, you say “fewer.” If you’re talking about material that comes in quantity, like sugar or fabric or money, you say ‘less.’”

As Lex Luthor always says, incorrect!

Not only does this rule not exist, one of her specific examples is definitely wrong however you slice it.

“I got this whole stereo system for fewer then 500 dollars” is just awkward.

Actually, I think Language Log has turned me into some sort of reverse grammar Nazi, because I have a very strong urge to email Meghan about why she’s wrong, and how every time she corrects her kid with a rule that he can see for himself is bullshit she further cements his opinion that grammar is nothing but an entirely arbitrary and mystifying set of rules whose only possible use is to allow pedants to yell at you when you’re having fun.

Left by Christopher on July 26th, 2010

Oh, dear. Then Meghan goes on to debate the legitimacy of “like” as verbal nounish prepadverbial construction thingie, without recognizing that it is a conversational tic, meant to indicate an emoticon or verbal HTML tags, and unlikely to be deployed in one’s college admission application.

…”So, she was, like, “Yikes!” And the other girl was, like, “Ha-ha!” and the rest of us were, like, “Ooooh, you are so in trouble!”

But, frankly, it’s our job to turn out reasonably articulate children. So if they’re using “like” when they mean, “said,” well, surely we need to act. Don’t we?…

It makes me think of strawberries, and Captain Queeg. I don’t like this.

Left by Larkspur on July 26th, 2010

Speaking of Captain Queeg, let us prove, beyond a shadow of a doubt and with geometric logic, that Meghan is in the right:

The more things you obsessively demand be done “the right way, not the wrong way,” the more you care about right and wrong.

The more you care about right and wrong, the more moral you are.

The more moral you are, the more authority you have to lecture everybody within the sound of your voice or the pixels of your blog about anything and everything.

Therefore, if you want to reform the moral conscience of America, the best place to start is as a grammar Nazi. QED.

Left by Jeffrey Kramer on July 27th, 2010

I suspect hubby on the right will be the photog.

Left by Bill Hicks on July 27th, 2010

Like, if I’m going to be there with those people, I don’t fucking care as long as that place has a bar.

I do find the distinction between dollars and money to be an amusing personal tic on Ms. Gherkin’s part, however.

Left by heydave on July 27th, 2010

When did Shelley Long get her teeth fixed? Damn, she needs some “work”!

“Jonathan and me had less than the other guys!”

“Jonathan and I had fewer than the other guys,” I corrected automatically.

Inches, or sex with the cheerleaders? Perhaps you should have ascertained that first, grammar troll…

Left by actor212 on July 27th, 2010

Didn’t she do a big GBCW column several years ago, ostensibly so she would have more time to homeschool the lil’ Gurdonites?

Apparently didn’t work out so well, since little Pyroclast retained some sense of perspective instead of being molded into Mommy’s Perfect Little Grammar Angel.

Left by Ugluks Flea on July 27th, 2010

You’ll notice there are at least two cameras still going but everyone else has left. I’m guessing third and fourth runnerup for Best Smile with No Teeth – over 50 – male division

OK, like Hugo has a banana and two apples and Tennesee Tuxedo has one apple and a pear. Does Tennesee have less fruit or fewer fruits than Hugo?

Left by scripto on July 27th, 2010

The Examiner: The paper you get when both the Express and the Onion are gone and your iPod is dead.

Left by Hysterical Woman on July 27th, 2010

English useage rules

Let’s see: I could start with “it’s spelled ‘usage’”. But you’d probably just roll your eyes at me.

Truly unfortunate that Meghan is both obnoxious and (as others have pointed out) wrong — because it really does matter if you use the language properly — any language, not just English.

Well, of course, unless you’re the second coming of Wiliam Shakespeare, in which case you can make up any shit you want.

Left by David in NYC on July 27th, 2010

Anyway, as to the photo, it’s obviously Bob and Ray doing one of their uncanny multi-voiced impressions of dimwits, featuring ace reporter Wally Ballou.

Left by Dr. BDH on July 27th, 2010

did the woman behind AWM just pull her hand down from the ‘rabbit ears behind the head’ gesture?

Left by zombie rotten mcdonald on July 27th, 2010

I don’t like to judge on appearances alone, I really don’t. (I take terrible photos myself – or perhaps I should say I cause terrible photos of myself to be produced, not that I want to.) And I’ve never read anything of Meghan’s other than bits in the blogs of liberals, bedecked with scathingly funny commentary. But I gotta say, if she has a batch of offspring and young Pyroclast (heehee! I even know what that means, thank you, Eyjafjallajokull!) is the first adolescent, and she takes this tack with intrateen lingo, she’s going to be a lot haggarder in a few years. As it is, she looks like the kind of person who invites disguised eye-rolling.

Left by Li'l Innocent on July 27th, 2010

did the woman behind AWM just pull her hand down from the ‘rabbit ears behind the head’ gesture?

Or the picture just missed the “strap snap”

Left by actor212 on July 27th, 2010

Hugo: I’ve had six vodka tonics and a viagra and I’m leaving immediately from this crappy banquet for a “business trip”.

Left by jackd on July 28th, 2010