New Year's Day, First Foot Day, Banished Words for 2006- January 1st

Since it is the first day of the New Year, as well as First Foot Day, I suppose one of the best ways to start off on the right foot would be to eliminate your vocabulary of all unnecessary, or "banished" words. I came across this list of Banished Words for 2006. Apparently, Lake Superior State University annually releases a "List of Words and Phrases Banished from the Queen's English for Mis-Use, Over-Use and General Uselessness." This year is the 31st year of the publishing.

These are my five favorite words and phrases from this year's list:

1) FEMA Dedicated to the memory of a great federal agency consigned to the ash heap of parody. "If they don't do anything, we don't need their acronym."--Josh Hamilton, Tucson, Ariz.

2) BREAKING NEWS- Once it stopped presses. Now it's a lower-intestinal condition brought about by eating dinner during newscasts. "Now they have to interrupt my supper to tell me that Katie Holmes is pregnant." -- Michael Raczko, Swanton, Ohio.

3)AN ACCIDENT THAT DIDN'T HAVE TO HAPPEN- Best-laid mayhem. "This means some accidents need to happen, for whatever reason, I can't figure." -- Thomas Price, Orlando, Fla.

4) FIRST-TIME CALLER- Preamble often heard on talk radio. "“I am serious in asking: who in any universe gives a care?" --Miguel McCormick, Orlando, Fla.

5) DESIGNER BREED- Many nominators consider this a bastardization of dog breeding. It may be a good line to use on angry neighbors when an un-neutered dog escapes. “When you mate a miniature schnauzer to a toy poodle, it's not a 'Schnoodle,' it's a mongrel." -- George Bullerjahn, Bowling Green, Ohio.

And since we are starting a new month, I should inform you of January's celebrations.

January is: Book Blitz Month, Celebration of Life Month, Cervical Cancer Screening Month, Family Fit Lifestyle Month, Financial Fitness Month, International Creativity Month, International Life Balance Month, Jump Out of Bed Month, National Be-on-purpose Month, National Clean Up Your Computer Month, National Get Organized Month, National Glaucoma Awareness Month, National Mentoring Month, National Poverty Awareness in America Month, National Returns Month, and Oatmeal Month.

Happy, Happy New Year!!