Smart quotes
I hate smart quotes (also known as smartquotes or Microsoft SmartQuotes).  But what I hate even more than smart quotes is the fact that people use them.  Reputable people.  People I like.  Like WordPress.  Why does the default configuration of WordPress have smart quotes enabled?  Why must I jump through hoops to disable them?  There's no easily configurable option to disable them.  There's code, but it uses smart quotes, so it defeats the purpose of the code it's advertising.  And that's precisely my problem with smart quotes:  Things (such as PHP) that interpret code don't know what they are, so they always cause problems.  I think the world would be a better place without them.  Ban smart quotes!  Or use them correctly. #technology

Mispronounce
Here's a list of the 100 most often mispronounced words and phrases in English.  Among my favorites are the US Army's "calvary" regiment (cavalry), discounting an idea by saying "irregardless" (regardless), and joining the "Klu" Klux Klan (Ku Klux Klan).  Of course nucular and foilage are on the list.  I would add the word "assume".  I've never heard a word that's more hideously butchered than this word.  Indians pronounce it "azzyume" and my Filipino co-worker pronounces it "azhyume".  I'm guessing it's a product of an ESL class that taught them to not say "ASSume". #language

Dancing with the Stars
If I've learned anything from watching VH1 (and I like to think I've learned a lot), I predict that in the very near future, we will look back on ABC's Dancing with the Stars with a feeling of ashamed, disgusted regret.  What an unbelievably stupid idea for a TV show.  The premise "is a totally unique and original series that pairs a celebrity with a professional dance partner as they train and then compete in front of a studio audience in a televised dance competition. The pairs will be judged by a panel of experts and also by viewers at home, with one couple being eliminated each week."  Apparently, this idea isn't American.  1 point for us.  It's "an international hit in several countries".  My question:  How?  What on earth is appealing about watching B- and C-list "celebrities" (term used loosely) dance in a competition?  Do we learn something from this?  Do people get blown up?  Are there sex scenes?  No.  No.  No.  Mark my words:  We will look back on this with regret. #entertainment

Christianize
I'm amazed and disgusted by the people who are "in charge" of or associated with certain groups of people.  I don't know much about the 80s because that's when I was a kid.  But when I read about some of the famous Christians, I can't blame people for not liking Christianity.  People like Pat Robertson, Jimmy Swaggart, Jim Bakker, and Jerry Falwell really gave Christianity a bad name.  What's even more amazing is that even after all the bad stuff (prostitutes, porn, adultery, squandering money, lying, etc.) happened, these guys are still in the public eye.  They should have quit the business and moved to some rural town in Idaho (or Sussex County, NJ) to live out their days in obscurity.  But no.  They continue to peddle their meaningless nonsense and offend people left and right.  It's a joy to be associated with people like this simply because I claim the title "Christian". 

And how could I not mention the Reverend Jesse Jackson and the Reverend Al Sharpton?  Since when do "Reverends" head up political organizations and represent our country to foreign nations?  But if they stopped using that title, they'd lose the support of all their mindless church-going followers.  What an utter disgrace.  I can only imagine what foreigners must think of our country (aside from their thoughts about W and crew) when one of these clowns shows up at their front door to talk about human rights or something.  "Who are you again?  A traveling pseudo-preacher from the ghetto?  And what do you have to do with America?" #religion