WE BLAME GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE (IT'S SERIOUS!)

Hi, Dave.

Not a link to an article, but I have noticed a trend that bothers me.

Why are journalists overwhelmingly adding parenthetical statement in their headlines? (It’s gotten annoying)

Ina Garten Just Shared Her “Easiest Dinner Recipe” (and It’s Delicious)

My (fill-in-the blank) Recipe is So Good (I Can’t Stop Making It!)

These Are The Best Books of 2024 (So Far), According to Editors

6 Food Centenarians Almost Never Eat (and You Shouldn’t Either), According To Experts

7 Things Minimalists Never Keep When They Declutter (And You Shouldn’t Either)

I Swear By This Swedish Tool for Washing Dishes (So Much Better than a Sponge)

The 7 Things You Should Refrigerate (But Probably Aren’t)

I think that if you posted something about the heretical parenthetical trend, our commenters would have a field day. (Try It!)

from MOTW

Comments

[Jeff Meyerson (yes, me)]

Thank you, MOTW (I love it!)

So true (I see it every day)

[pharmaross]

What's the point (I don't get it)?

[cfjk]

That won't go well. (But don't let that stop you!)

[Clankie]

It's almost election ( heaven help us ) day.

[Jim]

I notice that in Spanish, the first parenthetical mark is always upside down.

[anthony stewart]

I'd like to add "question" marks to the above "complaint."

[wanderer2575]

Don't tell the songwriters. Off the top of my head:

(The System of) Doctor Tarr and Professor Fether -- Alan Parsons Project
The Orangutan Gang (Strikes Back) -- Shadowfax
Carousel (A Day in the Park) -- Checkfield
I'd Do Anything for Love (But I Won't Do That) -- Meat Loaf
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) -- Journey
Rocket Man (I Think It’s Going to Be a Long, Long Time) -- Elton John
(Sittin’ On) The Dock of the Bay -- Otis Redding

[Questionable commenter]

Don't worry Anthony (we won't quote you on that).

[Jeff (I've got a lot more) Meyerson]

wanderer, so many '60s (my era) songs too:

(I Know) I'm Losing You - Temptations
I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch) = Four Tops
(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher - Jackie Wilson
I Got You (I Feel Good) - James Brown

[LeDud]

I think they do it to look cool (groovy).

[Yes (still me)]

I'm Just a Singer (In a Rock & Roll Band) - Moody Blues

[man tom]

We get a free copy of Parenthetical magazine in the mail each month. I'm sure just so they can say they have a crapload of subscribers in order to crank their advertising fees (like who the *HELL* are these crazy magazine people). Makes sense though. We have a lot of kids in treatment (having their teeth straightened for Prom). The parents can find solace in reading the rag while waiting around the waiting room (unless we toss it in the trash first).

*When I open my mailbox it is stuffed with free magazines from god knows who (idiots). At one point a company was sending banded bulk copies (like several bands of 50 copies each). Two hundred copies of Parenthetical magazine. We tried to contact the company to tell them (you idiots *STOP*!) But no, the banded bulks kept coming. I think they finally ran out of magazine and stopped (but their readership went up considerable).

MOTW - I probably have some recent issues of Parenthetical magazine I can send you (I can double check). Let me know and (have a great day). I assume all you kids are grown (have attended Prom).

[Pullet Surprise]

How come nobody listed any Barry Manilow songs?

[You Asked]

(no apostrophes)

[Steve (The 24 Guy)]

I have (problems) with (understanding) people who write (sentences) like this.

[((PirateBoy] (With a Lisp bracket closure)]

I've written this way (People say I used to write like Dave Barry) my entire life.

[Pullet Surprise]

Don't forget the speakers that use air parenthesis when they want to insert appositives (for example) in their speech to denote their intelligence (so they think). Air parens are made by holding tow index fingers up and moving each one in an arc to simulate the way the parens appear on paper (or produced by Shift 9 and Shift 0 on a keyboard.) Capice

[wanderer2575]

@Pullet Surprise, just for you:

Copacabana (at the Copa)

You want me to repeat that list?

[Chak]

Oh, thanks a bunch. (Not really). I've noticed the parentheticals, but I never thought to be irritated (or enraged!) by them. Now I won't be able to ignore them.

[Mad Hatter]

Dang! (I’m too late to the party.) But fun topic, MOTW! (You go, girl!)