More words

At last, a honest columnist: Jim Stingl of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel points out the truth behind Lake Superior State's annual list of banished words: Far from dropping out of memory, those words (and phrases) tend to stay with us. Why? They're useful.

What's more, the nation's newspapers wouldn't take much notice of the list if it weren't cannily issued around New Year's, when news is slow and we need something light to assuage the pain of our hangovers.

Assuage! Now there's a good old underused word to revive. Maybe the guys at Wayne State University will put it on their list.

LATER: A noted environmentalist takes a swipe at the Lake Superior State list.