Smart People, Foolish Typos

In his new blog on the Baltimore Sun site, John McIntyre explains the dangers of having a brain.

If Pythagoras Wrote Headlines

What I like about this hed is that AUWI² + Immunity² = odpy².

What's Wrong With This Picture?

From the November issue of Esquire:



Give up?

Contraindications

Slotrexin isn't for everyone, including people with liver problems and women who are nursing or pregnant.

Why, yes, those are examples of the people who fall under the "everyone" category! How about:

Slotrexin isn't for everyone. People with liver problems should not take it, nor should women who are nursing or pregnant.

More, Ahem, Sticklers

Washington Post restaurant critic Tom Sietsema's weekly chat has been bombarded recently with complaints about restaurant servers' use of "you guys" (covered in this space) and "no problem."

Today, a final word (yay!) and a verdict in the sticklers' favor (boo!):

Kingstowne, Va.: Can you stand one more comment on last week's issue about whether a waiter or waitress should use the phrase "no problem"? Seems to me that this is a silly phrase to use because it should be assumed that there is no problem--that is, if carrying out diners' requests is a problem, then the person needs to find another job!

Tom Sietsema: Agreed!

End of discussion. Case closed. Let's move along, people.

Repeat after me, people: Figure of speech.

Does "You're welcome" really make any sense as a response to "Thank you"? And what's the deal with "How do you do"? (I liked Kramer's response: "I do great!") Figures of speech. If "no problem" is a problem for you, you have some significantly bigger problems.