An update to the story clarifies that it's only the University of Oxford style guide, which is run by the PR department, not the Oxford University Press, which one hopes still abides by the comma that bears its name.

Also, as much as I love the Ayn Rand example, the style guide does say you are allowed to use it to avoid confusion. But why use it only sometimes? IT IS MAGIC.

But why use it only sometimes?

Because it is only necessary sometimes.

I don't wear a raincoat every day. Only when it is necessary. See? It's not that complicated. Use the extra comma when it is necessary to avoid ambiguity. That's what commas are for anyway.

::clings to serial comma::

WooHOO, msbelle! So happy for you!

Kathy, I'm awed and inspired by your industry.

I seem to have come to the bottom of my coffee cup. This necessitates getting my ass in gear and and getting on with things. Here I go.

Six Degrees of Separation, the –t version:

Arcade Fire…
1) Humanity received the knowledge of fire from the Greek God Prometheus (this may or may not have happened under a stoa, or arcade).
2) Frankenstein was “The Modern Prometheus.”
3) Dracula vs. Frankenstein is a 1971 horror film directed by Al Adamson.
4) Dracula is a vampire.
5) According to folklore, vampires are repelled by both the sun and religious symbols.
6) The present-day concept of the weekend first arose from the Dies Solis (Day of the Sun) decreed by Constantine, and the Biblical Sabbath.
…Vampire Weekend

Nice! It's like you're in my head.

Don't mind the dust.

Well, I just narrowly avoided embarrassing myself quite badly.

They finally re-announced my position, and when I went to look at the announcement I saw the words "NTE 2 years", and I nearly lost my shit. Called the HR person (who was out), bitched to my boss, was going to go track down the Big Boss who was responsible for the whole thing.

... and then I looked at it again, and realized it was an announcement from 2008, and not the new one. The new one? Is a permanent position.

Good thing I didn't talk to the Big Boss.

Of course, now I get to spend the next week stewing over the application, which is always fun.

Glad the re-announcement finally happened, Consuela. Hope the rehiring goes smoothly.

I just channeled my inner msbelle and pulled a few gallons of weeds out of a tiny corner of my yard. I should do that every day. Eventually it ought to make a visible difference.

I need to channel my inner msbelle/megan walker in order to tackle the Epic Summer Project List that is my house.

Consuela, I'm really glad to hear your job is finally becoming permanent.

Of course, now I get to spend the next week stewing over the application, which is always fun.

You don't just get to write your name and title on it???

You don't just get to write your name and title on it???

This seems fair.

{WS} it sounds like a perfectly reasonable reaction. Now *I'm* dreading the pressure test.