Those logophiles at Lake Superior State University have unleashed their 2009 list of words deserving of banishment, and as one might expect, the surfeit of “green” terms has them seeing red. So does “it’s that time of year again,” which is how I might have started this post.
“Green,” “carbon footprint” and “carbon offsetting” were among the most off-putting terms nominated by thousands of language guardians. “WallStreet/Main Street,” “Bailout” and “maverick” also boarded the list from the political-social commentary side of the street.
Ironically, the school could use a bailout, as falling enrollment has led to layoffs.
The list, with samples of comments from those who nominated them, can be found here. Located in Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., LSSU is already accepting nominations for its 2010 list.
Meanwhile, CNN.com contributor Frances Cole Jones published her list of 10 phrases not to use around the office (or at home, in my opinion). The list parallels a longer one appearing in Britain’s Daily Mail.
And the Irish Parliament is reviewing its banned word policy after discovering that the so-called “F-bomb” or “F-word” isn’t (I’m nominating “Blank-bomb/-word to LSSU).
So at this time of year, here’s wishing fewer cliches and old chestnuts for the New Year.

Hammock’s work honored as best of the best with major awards from two high-profile organizations.

On Nov. 12, Hammock scored in three categories of the Pearl Awards sponsored by the Custom Publishing Council. “Live SNAP ’09” took top honors with a Gold award in the Best Use of Community/Social Networking category and Silver in Best Microsite. “Live SNAP ’09” created an online space where attendees and those who couldn’t be at the Association Media & Publication Conference could follow the schedule of events along in real time. The goal was to provide a place for members, attendees, speakers and exhibitors alike to interact, participate and communicate through social media tools such as Flickr, YouTube, Twitter and blogging during the event.

The 29th annual Modern Day Marine Expo aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, VA, enjoyed such beautiful early autumn weather this year that more than a few people kidded the senior Marine officers present about ordering it up from some secretive climate control lab. They laughed, but I didn’t hear a single one directly deny it.
If the Marines do have weather-control equipment, it would likely have been on display at the Expo, which brings Marines and the folks who supply them together for three days of equipment critiques, evaluations and discussions.

Although Hammock’s spellers gave it a valiant effort, their hopes of winning the Nashville Area Literacy Council‘s Spelling Bee for the third time were done in by the word “stratagem,” which the team missed by spelling it as “strategem.” The error eliminated Team Hammock just shy of the final four teams, who had to tackle words such as “fermata” and “triskaidekaphobia.”

With the theme of “Words and Music,” the Bee was packed with musical terms, such as “zydeco” — a spicy form of Cajun music and dance that the Hammock Team took in stride. The ultimate winner of the Bee was The Ingram Content Group. Congratulations to them!

Team Hammock is already strategizing for next year’s contest.

The cover of the Sept-Oct. issue of Semper Fi, the magazine of the Marine Corps League, is devoted to LtCol. Timothy Maxwell, founder of the Corps’ Wounded Warrior Regiment. Grievously wounded in an IED attack that sent shrapnel into his brain, LtCol. Maxwell battled ferocious odds to regain motor skills and mental capabilities. During his long recovery, he realized wounded Marines needed to be together to share their travails and triumphs. He organized the Wounded Warrior Barracks aboard Camp Lejeune, NC, which grew into a full-fledged regiment. LtCol. Maxwell retired in June, but has not given up fighting to help Wounded Warriors of all services. His story is an inspiration to all.

We old print journalists often grumble under our green eyeshades about the differences between writing for print and for the Web. That’s especially true when it comes to headlines. As previously noted here, I love writing headlines for our print media, compressing a story into a few words, often with a wry twist that may elicit groans that we editor types tend to hear as amazed appreciation.

Bringing the Corps’ message to the Windy City, U.S. Marines swept into Chicago in mid-May for the first-ever Marine Week, a citywide series of events designed to better acquaint Chicagoans with the Corps. Our client, the Marine Corps League, partnered with the Corps to plan and carry out the demonstrations, speeches, concerts and receptions, and the story of Marine Week makes the cover of the July-August issue of Semper Fi, the League’s member magazine produced by Hammock Inc.

Judging from the hits, our post last year on creating style guides filled a need. If you’re just starting this process, or perhaps dusting off your current guide and thinking of remodeling, we thought we’d offer some tips on things you simply must have in your style guide. Typically, these are items that raise the most questions from readers or, if you are a custom publisher, from your clients:

Hammock folks are voracious readers at all times, but, like most everyone, we have summer reading plans that include books we haven’t gotten to yet, as well as some old pals we want to hang with on a sultry afternoon or two.
So we polled our colleagues about what’s on their summer reading list, as well as their favorite time or place for reading and preferred medium — traditional paper, audiobooks or e-readers like Kindle. As you might expect, the responses were varied and sometimes surprising — and worth reading:

Chicago, The City of Broad Shoulders, saw a lot of broad shoulders from 11-17 May as the US Marine Corps blew into the Windy City to give residents a close-up look at today’s Corps during the service’s inaugural Marine Week.

Hundreds of Marines performed community services tasks such as cleaning up parks, assisting with Habitat for Humanity projects and rehabbing community centers; they also visited schools, participated in sporting events, exhibited the latest in Marine equipment such as the V-22 Osprey and demonstrated Marine skills such as martial arts. On Sunday 17 May, a group of Marines staged a mock raid in the city’s popular Arlington
Park racetrack complex, complete with Ospreys landing and troops fanning out.

The previous evening at Navy Pier, the Marine Corps League hosted a VIP reception keynoted by an address from General James L. Jones, USMC (Ret), who was the 32nd Commandant of the Corps and serves now as National Security Advisor to President Barack Obama. Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Carlton W. Kent, and LtGen. Ronald S. Coleman, Deputy Commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs were also among the guests who included local political figures and many members of Chicagoland and Illinois Marine Corps League Detachments.

Local Leaguers were deeply involved in the planning and implementation of events, assisting the active duty Marines wherever necessary. Their scarlet jackets and caps – known as “covers” in Marine parlance – stood out in the crowds. It was a chance for these veterans to spend time getting to know some of today’s Leathernecks who carry on the Corps’ proud legacy.

The week-long event was an opportunity for Chicagoans to meet the individuals who make the Marine Corps, said Chicago native Brig. Gen. Melvin G. Spiese, commanding general, Training and Education Command, in Quantico, VA. “The idea of Marine Week is to get the major cities in America exposed to the Marine Corps,” said General Spiese. “We couldn’t find a better place to kick this thing off. We are America’s Marine Corps.”

“This is a Marine Corps town, it’s a very popular part of the military here,” said Chicago Mayor Richard Daley in opening the week-long event on 11 May. “You’ll see it all week, there is a great history of Marine Corps families in Chicago.”

Plans are in the works for the next Marine Week scheduled for this fall in Boston.