Miscellaneous

The American Dialect Society has released 2008?s Words of the Year. The overall champ is bailout, defined as ?the rescue by the government of companies on the brink of failure, including large players in the banking industry.? Finalists in various categories include the following:

• Most useful?Palinesque: Pertaining to persons who have extended themselves beyond their expertise, thereby bringing ridicule upon a serious matter.

• Most creative?recombobulation area: An area at Mitchell International Airport in Milwaukee in which passengers who have just passed through security screening can get their clothes and belongings back in order.

• Most euphemistic?scooping technician: A person whose job is to pick up dog poop.

• Most likely to succeed?shovel-ready: Used to describe infrastructure projects that can be started quickly when funds become available. In the same categor,  ?licious: A suffix which connotes desirability or attractiveness of the thing whose name it is combined with.

• Election-related?hopey-changey: Derisive epithet incorporating Obama?s two main buzzwords (also dopey hopey changey).

Hat tip: The Word Blog.