See, the problem people have with the Oxford comma is that it puts a pause where some think one doesn’t belong. The idea is that “I went to the market to get triple sec, limes and tequila” is better, or more modern, than “I went to the market to get triple sec, limes, and tequila.” And the Shatner comma? It, does, nothing, but, put, pauses, where, they, do, not, belong. As anyone who’s ever struggled with punctuating a long list knows, the Oxford comma can come in really handy. One example of why it’s needed was circulated on Twitter, and here’s an amended version of its loss gone wrong: “Among those interviewed were Mr. Smith’s two ex-wives, Kris Kristofferson and Robert Duvall” — turning Kristofferson and Duvall into the ex-wives of Mr. Smith.
June 2011
65 posts
In the past month, there have been two sexual assaults reported at my university, and a former student who molested a 12-year-old on campus has received his jail sentence. Number of editorials in the student paper calling for changes at the school, more support for survivors of sexual assault, etc? Zero. Number of editorials asking female students to dress more “modestly”? Four. Makes me feel enraged.
Clockwise from upper-left
César Aira, The Seamstress and the Wind — Novella. Translated from the Spanish by Rosalie Knecht. $12.95 US / $15.00 CAN
William Carlos Williams, Spring and All — Manifesto. Facsimile of the 1923 edition with a NEW Introduction by C.D. Wright. $12.95 US / $15.00…
More Petrona Viera.
Uruguayan painter, Petrona Viera. A great new discovery. The daughter of a president of Uruguay, she went deaf from meningitis. Her beautiful, charming post-impressionist paintings have lovely, lovely little girls in them. Enchanting.
I must say, I’ve been living more or less this way for over 20 years and am not sure if I’ve helped “fuck” the game as much as I hoped…
Caitlin Moran. Spread the word. (via maitresse)
