January 2004 | These words are out in 2K4

t was tempting to write an intro to the 2003 List of Banished Words (compiled each year, since the 1970's, by Lake Superior State University) using mostly the banished words themselves --for example, branding or extreme, but I could not bring myself to do it. 2K4 is almost here, and we'd better just get used to not using them anymore. Go to the banished words site immediately to peruse those terms that you may no longer use with impunity, including the mother of all war terms, "weapons of mass destruction" (the glib "9-11" and "surgical strike" were banned the prior year). Don't miss the link to lists from former years to judge whether banishment indeed had any subsequent effect. In my case perhaps not, as 1999's immortal HELLO?! oft creeps into a tiny dog rant. Let us pray that they will not ever dare to banish "peops," for without this term, I would almost be speechless. I may need to check the complete, encyclopedic listing (and perhaps, you should too) before the next rant hits the press.

Hey, peeps. Send mail to mail@tiny-dog.com.