If I could, I'd force the whole internet to watch this!

[elisi]

David Mitchell tackles my #1 pet peeve, in his own, amusing way.

Watch on YouTube

(Also, while I'm on my soap box, it's dammit and ad nauseam. *deep breath* And a happy Friday to you too! They go back to school on Monday. I can last that long, honestly)

*********

ETA: Completely unrelated - I dearly want to read a story wherein the TARDIS, with Eleven, Amy, Rory and River on board, falls into Pete's World and they meet TenToo and Rose. I might have to write it myself, although it would be complete crack...

Comments

[debris4spike]

Brilliant - those Colonials need to be taught a lesson in proper English.

[elisi]

*nods* The spellings are excusable, as he says, but 'could care less' MAKES NO SENSE!!!

[azdak.livejournal.com]

'could care less' MAKES NO SENSE!!!

Whereas we English would never use nonsensical idioms like "cheap at half the price", oh dear me, no.

[elisi]

I'm sure there's a perfectly logical explanation for that one! :)

[azdak.livejournal.com]

Language and logic - two non-mixy things.

[elisi]

Indeed! *g*

[candleanfeather.livejournal.com]

Very useful and funny at once.
I couldn't care less that you didn't hold the fort!
Do I get a cookie for lesson well learned? :-)

[elisi]

LOL!

And here's a cookie. :)

[gamiila.livejournal.com]

Fantastic! I couldn't agree more (which means I'm at the top of the graph, and could conceivably agree less, but I'm not going to) with what he says. "Could care less" has always struck me as the most non-sensical of non-sensical utterings and I'm glad someone has finally decided to mount their soapbox about it.

[elisi]

"Could care less" has always struck me as the most non-sensical of non-sensical utterings and I'm glad someone has finally decided to mount their soapbox about it.
*nods* And David Mitchell is just the sort of person who can tell people off and make them like it. :)

[vampirefever.livejournal.com]

Brilliant!

I also hate it when I see 'drug', as an incorrect tense of to 'to drag'. I've seen it in both fanfic and published novels. I mean, that's totally wrong, people FFS!

[elisi]

Brilliant!
I had to share!

I also hate it when I see 'drug', as an incorrect tense of to 'to drag'.
Yeah, I've seen that one too, although not outside the internet. What is WRONG with people?

[paratti.livejournal.com]

Quoted for Truth:)

[elisi]

Can't go wrong with David Mitchell.

[kathyh]

I love David Mitchell more than is probably good for me.

The only way you can really hold down the fort is if it was a bouncy castle in a high wind, but any other way makes no sense!

I might have to write it myself, although it would be complete crack...

Should I be afraid *g*.

[elisi]

I love David Mitchell more than is probably good for me.
I think it's because he's so terribly disarming!

The only way you can really hold down the fort is if it was a bouncy castle in a high wind, but any other way makes no sense!
Indeed.

Should I be afraid *g*.
Mmmmaybe? Although it's not imminent. I still haven't had time to finish my Spuffel fic...

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Mmm. Comedians are hot.

[kathyh]

Particularly when they are on stage and you are only two rows away from them :)

[calturner.livejournal.com]

Hee! This is fabulous. :D

[elisi]

Isn't it just? *pets David Mitchell*

[petzipellepingo.livejournal.com]

[elisi]

Oh beautifully played! *applauds*

[bogwitch.livejournal.com]

Yippee! Let's have a diplomatic incident!

[elisi]

And one that's a lot more fun than BP! :)

[http://users.livejournal.com/woman_of_/]

Perfect. I so agree, I do keep doing a double take when it is used.

Brilliant!

[elisi]

Me too. I feel like the Tenth Doctor 'What? What? What?'

:)

[1-mad-squirrel.livejournal.com]

Hee! I'm American and I say "couldn't care less". When I say it. Which isn't often.

As for "hold down the fort", I do say that. Hadn't given it much thought, really. I see David Mitchell (and the Queen's) point.

The part about us pronouncing "herb" the French way? You people spell "colour" the French way, so I don't think you can throw stones. ;-)

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

You people spell "colour" the French way, - um - no... if we spelt it the French way we would spell it 'couleur' - you know, like the French do... or did when I was at school anyway.

[1-mad-squirrel.livejournal.com]

Damn, shame on me. My three years of French was over twenty-five years ago, but still, to have gotten it that wrong... I knew there was a "u" in there somewhere though. ;-)

* goes off to shake the Etch-a-Sketch that is my brain *

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

I do understand the feeling - my brain is addled most of the time - it's my age I reckon... ;~)

[elisi]

Hee! I'm American and I say "couldn't care less". When I say it. Which isn't often.
I think there's a minority that's giving the rest of you a bad rep! ;)

As for "hold down the fort", I do say that. Hadn't given it much thought, really. I see David Mitchell (and the Queen's) point.
Same here. :)

[zanthinegirl.livejournal.com]

LOL!! I love that video; I'll have to look for more of his stuff!

I'll give you chocolate if you write that story, No, seriously!

[elisi]

LOL!! I love that video; I'll have to look for more of his stuff!
My pleasure. Also look for Mitchell & Webb - he's part of a comedy duo, you see. :)

I'll give you chocolate if you write that story, No, seriously!
Well with such encouragement... (Need to finish the Spuffel story first though.)

[humansrsuperior.livejournal.com]

LOL I LOVE THAT VIDEO SO MUCH OMG. YES YES YES. Although I admit I AM guilty of saying "Hold down the fort." *ashamed* But now I HAVE LEARNED SOMETHING.

And I think that DW fic idea is BRILLIANT. You should write it, indeed. *nods*

[elisi]

LOL I LOVE THAT VIDEO SO MUCH OMG. YES YES YES.
Heeee! 'Tis awesome indeed! (David Mitchell is generally awesome, I should point out. *g*)

Although I admit I AM guilty of saying "Hold down the fort." *ashamed*
LOL! Me too! Never gave it a second thought...

And I think that DW fic idea is BRILLIANT. You should write it, indeed. *nods*
Give it some time - I might have to wait until after the end of S5, to know just how AU it's going to be... (Mostly I just want Ten and Eleven to meet, and then adding companions galore seemed like the thing. *huggles them all*)

[tempestas-inu.livejournal.com]

Oi! I think every speaking culture has its quirks so don't call us out on ours! (except when there is someone being arrogant about theirs, then its okay)

*cough* on a side note..... WRITE EET! I DEMAND YOU DO SOMEDAY!!! EVEN IF IT IS CRACK! THAT SOUNDS AMAZING!

[elisi]

except when there is someone being arrogant about theirs, then its okay
Are you calling us arrogant? (This is rather funny, actually, since English is actually my third language...) *g*

WRITE EET! I DEMAND YOU DO SOMEDAY!!! EVEN IF IT IS CRACK! THAT SOUNDS AMAZING!
Well with such encouragement, I'll certainly try. Although it might be a week or two. :)

[tempestas-inu.livejournal.com]

No! Absolutely not. I was just sort of thinking about the idiots out there who always believe that *their* way is right without thinking about the other 6 billion people out there. I think I remember this one joke where an American was being all arrogant about the way British said things and the punchline dealt with the fact that British were speaking english LOONNNNGGGG before America even existed.

I'm American but I'm totally not beyond making fun of myself.


And HOLY COW. Tri-lingual? I would've never guessed that English wasn't your first laguage! You're amazing!

[elisi]

I think I remember this one joke where an American was being all arrogant about the way British said things and the punchline dealt with the fact that British were speaking english LOONNNNGGGG before America even existed.
Not to mention Dubya... ;) (We've got our fair share of idiot politicians too. Google Boris Johnson if in doubt!)

I'm American but I'm totally not beyond making fun of myself.
Nobody should be, imho! :)

And HOLY COW. Tri-lingual? I would've never guessed that English wasn't your first laguage! You're amazing!
Well I grew up bi-lingual, but I've been living in England for 13 years now, and I've always loved reading/writing, so...

[curiouswombat.livejournal.com]

Good man! And good woman for finding it!

[elisi]

I found it on Andrew Sullivan's blog, watched it, and then opened a new tab to write this entry! :)

[chloris67.livejournal.com]

Oooh! He does an excellent rant! I ended up talking to my husband about a couple of the sayings he brought up. He was of the opinion that 'hold the fort' has a specific military meaning (defend the fort from invaders) but that 'hold down the fort' simply meant to keep it running. He couldn't explain why it would have to be held down though. :D

[elisi]

Oooh! He does an excellent rant!
Isn't it just?

'hold down the fort' simply meant to keep it running. He couldn't explain why it would have to be held down though. :D
'Tis very peculiar indeed...

[candleanfeather.livejournal.com]

Rewatched The girl in question today. And guess what but Spike uses the expression "hold down the fort". The image of a bouncing castle came to mind. I wonder why.

[elisi]

LOL! I have to admit it a phrase I too have used, and never thought about. It pleases me that I share this with Spike! (TGiQ ftw!)

[spikesdeb.livejournal.com]

Ah, David Mitchell - how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...

Thanks ever so much for this; I am of one mind with David and clearly, you, on this one. I always mutter 'couldn't' under my breath when I'm readng something where the 'n't' is missing. Priceless, love it!

[elisi]

Ah, David Mitchell - how do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
You done yet? He has a LOT of fabulous qualities! ;)

I always mutter 'couldn't' under my breath when I'm readng something where the 'n't' is missing. Priceless, love it!
Me too! And it's worse than all the misspellings, because it showcases a fundamental inability to understand the meaning of the phrase... *gets off soapbox*