30 November 2005

Quite possibly the coolest thing ever


I'm not one to lust over material possessions (ok, I really am), but how badass is this? I'm not sure I quite buy the claims made by the seller, in particular the passenger capacity, but I'm thinking I could pull some mad trim driving this thing around, so alls I need is room for one more...Love the name.

The JL421 Badonkadonk is a completely unique, extremely rare land vehicle and battle tank. Designed with versatility in mind, the Donk can transport cargo or a crew of five internally or on the roof, and can be piloted from within the armored shell or from an exposed standing position through the hatch, thanks to special one-way steel mesh armor windows and a control stick that pivots up and down to allow piloting from the standing or seated positions. The interior is fully carpeted and cozy, with accent lighting and room for up to five people. A 400 watt premium sound system with PA is mounted to project sound both into the cabin and outward from behind the windows. The exterior is a steel shell with a rust patina, and features head and tail lights, turn signal lights, trim lighting, underbody lighting, fixed slats protecting the windows, and a unique industrial-strength rubberized flexible skirt that shields and protects the wheels to within an inch of the ground, while still allowing for enough flex to give clearance over bumpy and uneven terrain.

01 November 2005

"I literally exploded with laughter..."

“literally” has been so overused as a sort of vague intensifier that it is in danger of losing its literal meaning. It should be used to distinguish between a figurative and a literal meaning of a phrase. It should not be used as a synonym for “actually” or “really.”
Is this part of the so-called dumbing down of America? It's basic English, people. Or is it an example of the constantly changing nature of language? I always strive for precision with language, whether it's speaking or writing, so ventures like this are appreciated. The sad thing is that most of the examples come from journalists and writers who, presumably, should know better. And what about their editors?