The Oxford New American Dictionary officials, in an armchair moment, captures some of our popular words in 2009.  "Twitterisms," unsurprisingly is a 'notable word cluster' but fails to win the top word.  Sure, language isn't static, but who should be the authority to rank 'tweeting' above 'unfriend'?  *grumble*

Top Word of 2009: Unfriend, But Twitterisms Abound

-joan

Last month, news (http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/10/19/pif.flu/) broke that pigs in Minnesota had tested positive for H1N1 (aka "Swine Flu").  The story mentions what has been reported numerous times before: H1N1 is not foodborne.  Two days later, the National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) turned to Congress for financial support.  The NPPC (http://www.nppc.org) reports that the U.S.

 Here's an interesting article in the New York Times about a situation being debated in the British Supreme Court right now. There are public religious schools in England that are allowed to admit students based on their religion but not on their race or ethnicity.

Amused by our classic armchair authority:
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"I don't know what you mean by 'glory,'" Alice said.
Humpty Dumpty smiled contemptuously. "Of course you don't – till I tell you. I meant 'there's a nice knock-down argument for you!'"
"But 'glory' doesn't mean 'a nice knock-down argument,'" Alice objected.
"When I use a word," Humpty Dumpty said in a rather a scornful tone, "it means just what I choose it to mean – neither more nor less."

Article

Confusion with names could delay rescuers - Milford and West Walse Mercury, August 22, 2009

Summary

Where the heck is Witches Caludron?  It is Ceibwr Bay, of course.