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The Death of Grammar

I'm a big fan of biographies. I love history and I find the best way to learn about it is through personal figures. The horrors of war can be glossed over unless you're able to anchor yourself in a real person. The impacts of technology can be lost unless you see how it truly impacted the average person. Also, I'm a geek for famous historical figures. The men who exemplified good, evil, and everything in between.

The one thing I find fascinating about these biographies is how people used to write. The books are filled with flowery prose and perfect grammar. And these aren't all formal letters or letters between lovers. Most of them are not scribbled to friends. When was the last time you sent or received a letter that can be quoted hundreds of years from now. The emails I get often look like:

'Sup,

Hahaha, you were blackout!So, bar, tonight?

Kk

When did we lose that love and respect for the language? Grammar has fallen to the waist side with the younger generation. It's seen as less as a tool and more of an encumbrance. You can get your point across eventually, so why bother memorizing and following all those stupid rules? It amazes me how many people don't know the difference between there, their, and they're, or its and it's, or comma splices. I mean, I like comma splices! I believe they should be grammatically okay (and I will debate you to my death if you disagree) but I know not to use them. Ask most people and they have no idea what they are.

Ah...that's my rant. I'm a lover of language, so maybe it's just my button. I'm sure artists feel the same way about digital printers or something.

Until next time, watch your split infinitives.

Your friend,

McGonz

Careers

I'm a big believer in constant growth. We teach our children that this world is a mysterious, exciting place, with more to learn and more to experience that you can dream of. Yet, somewhere along the way, even though we're still teaching the lesson, we no longer believe it. I think it has something to do with finding the almighty career. When you have a job, a shitty, soul crushing, if I do this one more day I'm going to take a bath with the toaster, job, you're future is still so brilliant. You're present is terrible, but it's only temporary. You have plans, you have schemes, you have hopes, you have goals. You may not even be one of those people who know in their guts who they are and what they should be doing, but that doesn't matter, because you can do anything. You can quit that shit job in the middle of your shift, leave the country, find something wonderful and new. You may never do it, but you can. And then you get the career. For most people it won't be a doctor, or lawyer, or police officer. It will be a career you never wanted to do as a child, that no child would ever want. It's in an office, dealing with the minute details of a company that really no one gives a flying fuck about. But it has great pay, good benefits, vacation time, and it seems...fine. It gives you all the things you need and all it wants back is half of your soul. Not even the good half. Not the half you use to feel love and compassion and wonder. Just the half with the passion. How often do you need it in real life anyways? Is it more important than a house, a new car, a vacation every year?

I'm a writer. It is in my marrow. But I am extremely human. If I find the career that isn't writing but will take care of me, I would take it. And I would lie to myself, saying I can still write, that it will still happen. But it won't.

So here's too shitty jobs at shitty restaurants until I find that career that won't take my soul.

Your friend,

Kris McGonegal