A Mug Shot We Love

Marcia J. sent along this little beauty: a photo of the foam on her latte featuring SPOGG's punctuation action figure. 

We love it! While it's not quite the commitment that the world's first SPOGG tattoo required, we'll drink to it nonetheless.

If you'd like your very own SPOGG mug, visit our shop. Please forgive us the spelling of "stationery," though. We have no control over that.

And if you're a writer, you must check out Marcia's blog post about branding. We confess that we did not think of our efforts as such--really, it was all about having fun--we are glad they've made the right impression on someone so savvy and articulate.

Distinguished Prose: No Ifs, Ands, or Butts...

A SPOGG member sends this memo she received at work (emphasis hers):

During the afternoon of March 9, 2012, the trash can near the smoking Kiosk area caught fire. After investigating the cause of the fire, it was determined, most likely, that a cigarette butt was put in the trash receptacle instead of the cigarette receptacle. If the maintenance team had not reacted immediately and DISTINGUISHED the fire, this incident could have put the Headquarters Complex in a dangerous fire situation. As a result, OOA will make recommendations to Senior Management on how to prevent or minimize such an incidence from occurring in the future. Please be advised that until a final decision is made, it is imperative that ALL cigarette butts are disposed of in the cigarette receptacles located in the designated smoking area. Thank you for your cooperation.

It's Like a Martini ... for the Ears

It's been a long time since we've posted, but we have good reason. Our first novel comes out in June, and we have been busybusybusy honing it to perfection. One round of copy editing, two rounds of proofreading, and a stronger glasses prescription later, we think it's ready for the world. The misspelling in the title is on purpose.

(Go here for more information about the novel.)

Meanwhile, National Grammar Day gallops toward us on bright and clattering hooves. John McIntyre of The Baltimore Sun, he of the delightfully cranky* You Don't Say blog, has recorded an audio version of the Grammar Noir he wrote in 2009 to celebrate the first National Grammar Day.

You really must listen.

And then, for National Grammar Day on March 4, we invite you to pin the apostrophe in the contraction. Either that, or remove it from the possessive. Yes! We believe in having that much fun!

May the fourth be with you!


* We like him even if we do not always agree on grammar or the virtues of shaking vs. stirring a grammartini.)