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12/31/2004 Archived Entry: "'You're Fired' Tops Banned Word List"

Posted by steve @ 06:30 PM EST [Link]

I ASSUME 'BLING BLING' IS ALREADY BANNED: Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie has released its list of banned words and phrases for 2005. On the list are "You're fired!" and "blog."

The Nov. 2 election produced a host of proposed bannings for 2005, including "blue (Democratic) and red (Republican) states," "battleground states," "flip-flop" and the political ad tag line ".... and I approve this message."

Sex also was on the minds of committee members, who targeted the impotence synonym "erectile dysfunction" from Viagra and Levitra ads and "wardrobe malfunction," used to describe the baring of singer Janet Jackson's right breast at the 2004 Super Bowl halftime show.

And yes, "bling bling" was banned last year. I remember first hearing that word in the mid-90s (coined by the rap group Cash Money Millionaires) -- years before it got big -- and knowing that it would soon be ubiquitous. I hate being right.

Check out the 2005 list and all lists going back to 1976 here.