Saw an AP article (to which I will not link, and from which I will not quote, due to the AP being a bunch of RIAA-style fuckweasels) discusses the newly-redesigned Missouri license plate, complete with grammatical error.

Missouri is the Show-Me state. Show-Me in that context needs a hyphen, however the plate has no hyphen. Officials with the state don’t plan to correct the error, even on future plates, since “That’s the way it looked when it won an online contest last year.”

Great answer. The online voting public approved it, so that’s good enough for you? Nice. I bet you’d be reissuing some plates pretty quickly if they were found to contain a secret pro-choice message, or a subliminal penis illustration. But proper grammar? That’s for pussies.

Hmmm… I wonder if there’s any link between that kind of attitude and this kind of report about our state’s educational system?

Missouri’s underperformance in educating its young population could limit the state’s access to a competitive workforce and weaken its economy over time. Missouri continues to trail leading states in preparing students for higher education and enrolling them in college directly after high school.

#99 Grammar « Stuff White People Like

Another important thing to know is that when white people read magazines and books they are always looking for grammar and spelling mistakes. In fact, one of the greatest joys a white person can experience is to catch a grammar mistake in a major publication. Finding one allows a white person to believe that they are better than the writer and the publication since they would have caught the mistake. The more respected the publication, the greater the thrill. If a white person were to catch a mistake in The New Yorker, it would be a sufficient reason for a large party.

I’ve been all weekend traumatized because one of my friends kept using the word “shat” in the wrong tense. Clearly “shat” is past tense and she was using it in future tense. I could hardly keep myself from reprimanding her. But in the end I rose above it. *sigh*

Then MyTodd™ said that he thought it wasn’t even a real word! Merciful heavens, the educating I have to do amongst my friends. Who appreciate it one and all, and don’t find me in the least pedantic. *ahem*

What I hate: Politics

Why I hate it: Fucking disingenuousness that just does not end. Hillary calling Barack out about his comments on the poor clinging to guns and religion? Her calling his comments elitist? Bullshit. But worse than that retarded display was what I heard on NPR this morning, that Hills said she thinks the “potential for life begins at conception” and Bars saying that he “hasn’t made up [his] mind.” BULLSHIT. I totally totally call fucking bullshit on both of them. Begins at conception, Hilly? REALLY? Since when? And haven’t made your mind up, Mr. O? Really? What exactly are you waiting for? Do you need to grow up first? Do some reading on it? Please. Hills is pro-choice but willing to capitulate that for electability and Obama would abort your fetus himself, but knows the religious (esp the African American “god DAMN America!” coalition) won’t support that. I fucking hate politics.

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Blue Cross halts letters amid furor - Los Angeles Times
Its request to doctors for data that could lead to policy rescissions was widely criticized.
By Lisa Girion and Jordan Rau, Los Angeles Times Staff Writers
February 13, 2008

Facing a torrent of criticism Tuesday, Blue Cross of California abruptly halted its practice of asking physicians in a letter to look for medical conditions that could be used to cancel patients’ insurance coverage.In a statement issued about 6 p.m., the state’s largest for-profit insurer said, “Today we reached out to our provider partners and California regulators and determined this letter is no longer necessary and, in fact, was creating a misimpression and causing some members and providers undue concern. As a result, we are discontinuing the dissemination of this letter going forward.”

The announcement came after blistering rebukes Tuesday by physicians, patients, privacy experts and officials including Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) after The Times disclosed the practice.

The letter had been sharply criticized Monday by the California Medical Assn., and Tuesday night its president, Richard Frankenstein, said: “This letter was part of Blue Cross’ pattern of unfairly canceling policies when people need coverage most. We’re relieved that Blue Cross is ending this particular tactic but continue to have serious concerns about this company’s practices looking forward.”

It’s good they’re doing this, though they’re still totally evil and this is only a bow to public pressure - I am sure the tactics behind the scenes will stay just as bad or even get worse than they are now. However, I really have to take issue with the crap language they are using, and they’re joined in it by the California Medical Association, who I would like to consider as the good guys — just not linguistically.

I am referring, of course, to the use of “going forward” in their letter, and to a lesser degree “looking forward” in the CMA’s letter. The Dimwit’s Dictionary describes “going forward” as a torpid term - A “vapid phrase used in the place of a vital one.” In every instance that “going forward” is used to describe future actions, it can be deleted without impact to the sentence. Observe:

“As a result, we are discontinuing the dissemination of this letter going forward.”

“As a result, we are discontinuing the dissemination of this letter.”

Exactly the same meaning. After all, we’d hardly expect them (at this stage in humanity’s technological development anyway) to “discontinue the dissemination of this letter” going backward.

Same thing here:

“…continue to have serious concerns about this company’s practices looking forward.”

“…continue to have serious concerns about this company’s practices.”

Lender Tells Judge It ‘Recreated’ Letters - New York Times

“These letters are a smoking gun that something is not right in Denmark,” Judge Agresti said in a Dec. 20 hearing in Pittsburgh.