Funny thing: I met Mr. McFeely (you know, Mr. Rogers' mailman?) the other day while I was at the Field Museum with Michelle's family. That was strangely neat, considering that I had been watching him on TV about as far back as I can remember. Also because he was actually there as Mr. McFeely, mailman outfit and all.Turns out that he's also known as David Newell, and is the PR directory for Family Communications, Inc., the company that handles Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood. He was an incredibly nice guy, and was there promoting a sweater drive and handing out/signing free copies of Fred Rogers' book You Are Special. I don't know what I'll do with the signed photograph I received along with the book, but I might keep it in my office as a conversation piece.
Anyway, he small-talked with Michelle and me for a minute, and after I told him about what I do - working with kids and all that - he handed me his business card and said that he can send me some resources if I email him. I think I'm going to do it. Indeed, I think I have to do it; if nothing else, for the little boy in me who would never be able to pass up the opportunity to communicate over email with the mailman from Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.
Speedy Delivery!
Oh, and I forgot: it's "Mr. Rogers's mailman," not "Mr. Rogers' mailman." Ignoramus.
;)
Also, I just Googled it and apparently it IS officially "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood" but THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S CORRECT. Shame on PBS for promoting improper grammar!
Damn it.
It is correct, you fool! Do you pronounce it as Mr. Rogers-is Neighborhood? Most names should be "s's" because you actually pronounce the second "s," but that's not the case here. Thus, I am right and you are wrong. WRONG! DEAD WRONG!
Pronunciation is irrelevant, you bratty thing. Let me demonstrate how wrong you are by substituting my name in place of Mr. Rogers's:
"Ms. Michelle's Neighborhood" - correct
"Ms. Michelle' Neighborhood" - incorrect
And that is essentially what you (and PBS) are doing to poor Mr. Rogers. REGARDLESS OF WHETHER A NAME ENDS WITH AN "S," YOU STILL NEED TO USE A POSSESSIVE "S" AFTER THE APOSTROPHE!
Allow me to quote from Lynn Truss's (see? another example!) amusing little grammar guide, Eats, Shoots & Leaves:
"Current guides to punctuation (including that ultimate authority, Fowler's Modern English Usage) state that with modern names ending in "s" (including Biblical names, and any foreign name with an unpronounced final "s"), the "s" is required after the apostrophe:
Keats's poems
Philippa Jones's book
St. James's Square
Alexander Dumas's The Three Musketeers"
Dropping the "s" after the apostrophe is a stupid American thing and has no basis in grammar or common sense. So THERE.
Truss-is, Keats-is, Jones-is, James-is, Dumas-is. Rogers-is? I haven't heard you pronounce it like that! It's all awkward and incorrect! There is no such thing as a silent possessive "s," but there can be an assumed one. There are style experts who say that it's okay to leave off the "s" with historical names (like "Jesus'") and whenever it sounds awkward. Hmph!
So take your quarrelling and proselytising somewhere else with your "Queen's English", with all of its pretence and ageing precepts! I will always speak in defence of the æsthetics of good ol' Americana, my dear lady. I will hear no more of your silly row!