“It has both currency and potential longevity,” notes Christine Lindberg, Senior Lexicographer for Oxford’s US dictionary program. “In the online social networking context, its meaning is understood, so its adoption as a modern verb form makes this an interesting choice for Word of the Year. Most ‘un-’ prefixed words are adjectives (unacceptable, unpleasant), and there are certainly some familiar ‘un-’ verbs (uncap, unpack), but ‘unfriend’ is different from the norm. It assumes a verb sense of ‘friend’ that is really not used (at least not since maybe the 17th century!). Unfriend has real lex-appeal.”

Word of the Year Finalists:

Technology

• hashtag – a # [hash] sign added to a word or phrase that enables Twitter users to search for tweets (postings on the Twitter site) that contain similarly tagged items and view thematic sets
• intexticated – distracted because texting on a cellphone while driving a vehicle
• netbook – a small, very portable laptop computer with limited memory
• paywall – a way of blocking access to a part of a website which is only available to paying subscribers
• sexting – the sending of sexually explicit texts and pictures by cellphone

Economy

• freemium – a business model in which some basic services are provided for free, with the aim of enticing users to pay for additional, premium features or content
• funemployed – taking advantage of one’s newly unemployed status to have fun or pursue other interests
• zombie bank – a financial institution whose liabilities are greater than its assets, but which continues to operate because of government support

Politics and Current Affairs

• Ardi -(Ardipithecus ramidus) oldest known hominid, discovered in Ethiopia during the 1990s and announced to the public in 2009
• birther – a conspiracy theorist who challenges President Obama’s US birth certificate
• choice mom – a person who chooses to be a single mother
• death panel – a theoretical body that determines which patients deserve to live, when care is rationed
• teabagger – a person who protests President Obama’s tax policies and stimulus package, often through local demonstrations known as “Tea Party” protests (in allusion to the Boston Tea Party of 1773)

Environment

• brown state – a US state that does not have strict environmental regulations
• green state – a US state that has strict environmental regulations
• ecotown – a town built and run on eco-friendly principles

Novelty Words

• deleb – a dead celebrity
• tramp stamp – a tattoo on the lower back, usually on a woman

Notable Word Clusters for 2009

Twitter related:

• Tweeps Twibe
• Tweetup Sweeple
• Twitt Tweepish
• Twitterati Tweetaholic
• Twitterature Twittermob
• Twitterverse/sphere Twitterhea
• Retweet

Obamaisms:

• Obamanomics
• Obamaeur
• Obamarama
• Obamanator
• Obamasty
• Obamaland
• Obamacons
• Obamalicious
• Obamanos
• Obamacles
• Obamanation
• Obamania
• Obamafication
• Obamacracy
• Obamamessiah
• Obamanon
• Obamamama
• Obamalypse

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Key facts about “Give Peace A Chance”:

• Written during John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s 1969 honeymoon bed-in protest against the Vietnam War
• “Give Peace a Chance” was inspired by Lennon’s off-the-cuff explanation to a visiting reporter of the couple’s purpose for protesting the war by remaining in their honeymoon bed
• From March 25 to March 31, the newlyweds invited the world’s media to visit and interview them daily between the hours of 9am and 9pm in their bed at the Amsterdam Hilton Hotel
• The song was recorded live on June 1, 1969, in a room at Montreal’s Queen Elizabeth Hotel
• Several well-known friends joined Lennon and Ono to sing the chorus, including Tommy Smothers, Dr. Timothy Leary and musicians Derek Taylor and Petula Clark
• Original release date was July 4, 1969
• Considered the world’s foremost anthem for peace, beginning most notably with the Moratorium to End the War in Vietnam’s massive protest in Washington, DC on Nov. 15, 1969, where more than 500,000 people gathered and sang “Give Peace a Chance”

In a survey of more than 1,000 U.S. respondents, 48 percent plan to visit a U.S. vineyard this year, with 40 percent planning to do so this fall. Travelers are most interested in visiting California favorites Napa Valley (29 percent) and Sonoma (18 percent), with the Finger Lakes, New York and Willamette Valley, Oregon tied for third place with eight percent. When it comes to good taste, 59 percent prefer red wine, 43 percent want white and 12 percent request rosé.

1. Napa Valley, California
The undisputed American capital of wine has earned its reputation thanks to seemingly endless picturesque vineyards and world-class wines. The valley’s gorgeous scenery serves as the backdrop to both amazing large-scale wineries as well as smaller, intimate (but no less excellent) wineries.
Top Value hotel in Napa, California: Chablis Inn – Average nightly rate: $114

2. Sonoma, California
Protected by mountains from excessive rainfall, Sonoma has an ideal climate for growing grapes on its numerous vineyards. Napa’s neighbor is smaller in terms of wine production, but has the highly sought-after wines and sweeping vistas to make it an enchanting wine destination.

3. Willamette Valley, Oregon
Oregon produces far less wine than its Californian counterparts, but distinguishes itself for its outstanding pinot noirs and other varietals. Willamette Valley, one of Oregon’s major wine-growing regions, has more than 200 charming wineries, and is considered the hub of the state’s wine industry.
Top Value hotel in Eugene, Oregon: Broadway Inn – Average nightly rate: $82

4. Yakima Valley, Washington
The oldest wine region in Washington, diverse Yakima Valley can grow many varietals, including chardonnay and shiraz. Nearly half of the wine produced in Washington begins with Yakima Valley grapes, but the Valley is also home to incredible orchards bearing a wide range of fruits.

5. Roseburg, Oregon
South of Willamette Valley, Roseburg has a slightly warmer climate and is situated in the Umpqua Valley, where impressive natural scenery is all around from waterfalls to wildlife. Pinot noir is the primary varietal here, but delicious pinot gris, riesling, chardonnay, and others can also be found.
Top Value hotel in Roseburg, Oregon: Quality Inn Central – Average nightly rate: $80

6. Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
A full-bodied merlot or pinot noir is not hard to find in Okanagan Valley, but sweet dessert ice wines are another treat produced in this wine region that features more than 100 different wineries. The area is also known for its fruit orchards and its clear, fresh lakes, drawing visitors for its climate and its beauty as well as its food and wine.

7. Finger Lakes, New York
New York’s largest wine-producing region, the microclimate of the Finger Lakes region provides ideal conditions for growing a range of varietals. Award-winning wines and sparkling wines, along with an exceptionally peaceful, beautiful setting, make the area well worth a visit.
Top Value hotel in Auburn, New York: Inn at the Finger Lakes – Average nightly rate $94

8. Traverse City, Michigan
The majority of its grapes are grown near the shores of Lake Michigan, making for the unique growing climate of the Traverse City area, an important wine-growing region in the Midwest. Baco noir, cabernet franc, and others are produced in Michigan Wine Country, along with rarer fruit wines and ice wines.

9. North Fork, Long Island, N.Y.
With its 4,000 acres of vineyards, Long Island Wine Country is gaining more and more attention for its wines and its intimate atmosphere. North Fork, on the eastern side of Long Island, is not only home to some celebrated local wines, but also to excellent fresh seafood and produce.
Top Value hotel in Riverhead, New York: Holiday Inn Express East End – Average nightly rate: $188

10. Oak Grove, Virginia
Virginia has a rich wine history dating back to Jefferson’s Monticello wines in the 1770s, and nestled in Virginia’s stunningly beautiful Northern Neck region, Oak Grove is home to one of Virginia’s largest, and oldest, wineries.

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1. The Time of Our Lives
2. Party In The USA
3. Obsessed
4. When I Look At You
5. Talk Is Cheap
6. Kicking And Screaming
7. Before The Storm (duet with Jonas Brothers Live)

In addition, Miley Cyrus and designer Max Azria of apparel house BCBGMAXAZRIAGROUP, Inc. have teamed up to create Miley Cyrus & Max Azria, a new apparel line which launched this month exclusively in Walmart stores and online at Walmart.com. Walmart is also the sponsor of the Miley Cyrus North American Tour.

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Pittsburgh tops this year’s list with a casual dinner and two movie tickets costing $77.80. On the opposite end of the spectrum, the same date in the most expensive city on the list, Los Angeles, comes in at $126.06.

The following list uncovers the most affordable cities for dating in the United States based on research conducted by Match.com:

1. Pittsburgh – Dating is a steal in the Steel City.
2. Detroit – A night at the drive-in in the Motor City won’t break the bank.
3. Sacramento, Calif. – When it comes to cheap dates this place is the capital.
4. Phoenix – The desert heat won’t dry up your bank account.
5. Indianapolis – The Indy 500 isn’t the only thing that gets hearts racing in Indianapolis.
6. St. Louis, Mo. – The Gateway to love doesn’t have to be expensive in St. Louis.
7. Tampa – St. Petersburg, Fla. – With such cheap date prices, residents practically live like buccaneers in this Florida city.
8. Orlando – Daytona Beach, Fla. – Another reason this is the “happiest place on Earth:” romantic dates that won’t deplete your checking account.
9. Houston – Everything is big in this Texas city, except the cost of dating.
10. Charlotte, N.C. – Guys in North Carolina have a lot to smile about — Southern belles and inexpensive dates.

Other cities:

11. Atlanta
12. Denver
13. Cleveland
14. Miami
15. Portland, Ore.
16. Minneapolis – St. Paul
17. Seattle
18. Philadelphia
19. Boston
20. Dallas – Fort Worth
21. Washington, D.C.
22. Chicago
23. New York
24. San Francisco
25. Los Angeles

Source: Match.com

Key features include:

• The all new XJ will be available in the US with a choice of three engines – a 5.0 liter 385hp naturally aspirated V8, 5.0 liter 470hp supercharged V8 and a 5.0 liter 510hp supercharged V8. In naturally-aspirated form, the XJ develops 380 lb. ft. of torque. The supercharged versions develop 424 lb. ft. and 461 lb. ft. of torque, respectively.
• The new XJ features both standard and long wheelbase models. The long wheelbase offers an additional five inches of legroom while the XJ’s trunk features power opening and closing for convenient access to the 15.2 cu. ft. storage space (with standard alloy space saver spare wheel).
• The new Jaguar XJ is constructed using Jaguar’s aerospace-inspired aluminum body technology, which makes the XJ at least 300 lbs. lighter over steel body construction; providing benefits to performance, handling and fuel economy, while delivering increased strength, refinement and safety.
• Key driver aids on the new XJ include Adaptive Dynamics (continuously variable damping), Active Differential Control (available only on Supercharged and Supersport), and Sequential Shift System for manual gear selection, with shift paddles mounted behind the steering wheel and quick-ratio power steering.
• The new XJ comes standard with a CD/DVD player, HD radio, and a SIRIUS™ satellite radio receiver. In addition, the Media Hub provides flexible connectivity through two USB ports, Bluetooth® audio streaming and an auxiliary input, which allow the user to connect with iPods®, iPhones™, laptops and Blackberrys®.
• A 12.3-inch high-definition screen, which uses sophisticated Virtual Instruments™, provides all of the functions performed by traditional dials.
• A panoramic glass roof is an integral part of the all new XJ’s design, enabling the car to have a lower, more streamlined roofline, while dramatically enhancing the feeling of light and space inside.
• The all new Jaguar XJ will go on sale in December 2009, with a starting price of $72,500 MSRP.

Source: Jaguar Cars

On the list are a pea-sized seahorse, caffeine-free coffee and bacteria that live in hairspray. The top 10 new species also include the very tiny (a snake just a slither longer than 4 inches or 104 millimeters), the very long (an insect from Malaysia with an overall length of 22.3 inches or 56.7 centimeters), the very old (a fossilized specimen of the oldest known live-bearing vertebrate) and the very twisted (a snail whose shell twists around four axes). Rounding out this year’s list are a palm that flowers itself to death, a ghost slug from Wales and a deep blue damselfish.

The taxonomists also are issuing an SOS – State of Observed Species – report card on human knowledge of Earth’s species. In it, they report that 18,516 species new to science were discovered and described in 2007. The SOS report was compiled by ASU’s International Institute for Species Exploration in partnership with the International Commission on Zoological Nomenclature, International Plant Names Index, Zoological Record published by Thomson Reuters, and the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology.

Here are the top 10:

1. A tiny seahorse – Hippocampus satomiae – with a standard length of 0.54 inches (13.8 millimeters) and an approximate height of 0.45 inches (11.5 millimeters). This pygmy species was found near Derawan Island off Kalimantan, Indonesia. The name – satomiae – is “in honour of Miss Satomi Onishi, the dive guide who collected the type specimens.”
2. A gigantic new species and genus of palm – Tahina spectablilis – with fewer than 100 individuals found only in a small area of northwestern Madagascar. This plant flowers itself to death, producing a huge, spectacular terminal inflorescence with countless flowers. After fruiting, the palm dies and collapses. Soon after the original publication of the species description, seeds were disseminated throughout the palm grower community, to raise money for its conservation by the local villagers. It has since become a highly prized ornamental.
3. Caffeine-free coffee from Cameroon — Coffea charrieriana is the first record of a caffeine-free species from Central Africa. The plant is named for Professor Andre Charrier, “who managed coffee breeding research and collecting missions at IRD (Institut de Recherche pour le Developpement) during the last 30 years of the 20th century.”
4. An extremophile bacteria that was discovered in hairspray by Japanese scientists. The species – Microbacterium hatanonis – was named in honor of Kazunori Hatano, “for his contribution to the understanding of the genus Microbacterium.”
5. Phobaeticus chani made the list as the world’s longest insect with a body length of 14 inches (36.6 centimeters) and overall length of 22.3 inches (56.7 centimeters). The insect, which resembles a stick, was found in Borneo, Malaysia.
6. The Barbados Threadsnake – Leptotyphlops carlae – measuring 4.1 inches (104 millimeters) is believed to be the world’s smallest snake. It was discovered in St. Joseph Parish, Barbados.
7. The ghost slug – Selenochlamys ysbryda – was a surprising find in the well-collected and densely populated area of Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales.
8. A snail – Opisthostoma vermiculum – found in Malaysia, represents a unique morphological evolution, with a shell that twists around four axes. It is endemic to a unique limestone hill habitat in Malaysia.
9. Chromis abyssus — a beautiful species of damselfish made it to the top 10 representing the first taxonomic act of 2008 and the first act registered in the newly launched taxonomic database Zoobank. As a result, in the first month following its original description, it was the most downloaded article in Zootaxa’s history and was among the top 10 downloaded articles for 11 months in 2008. The discovery also highlights how little is known about deep-reef biodiversity.
10. A fossilized specimen – Materpiscis attenboroughi – the oldest known vertebrate to be viviparous (live bearing). The specimen, an extremely rare find from Western Australia, shows a mother fish giving birth approximately 380 million years ago. The holotype specimen has been nicknamed “Josie” by the discoverer, John Long, in honor of his mother.

Source: Arizona State University International Institute for Species Exploration

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Only two actors – Will Smith and Johnny Depp – managed to climb onto The Ulmer Scale’s renowned A+ list, scoring 96 and 95 points, respectively, out of a possible 100 in studio high-budget movies. Former no. 1 star Tom Cruise saw his ranking tank to 11th place with 80 points, down 18 points from his 2007 tally.

Women sustained the most wide-ranging losses. Former no. 1 star Julia Roberts slipped 11 points to 12th place overall with 80 points, moving off the A+ list for the first time in 15 years due largely to her reduced output of films. Roberts came in second among women after top-seated Reese Witherspoon, who scored 85 points and is the only woman to make the Top 10 in The Ulmer Scale’s global bankability survey of film industry professionals.

Mel Gibson suffered the biggest drop in star power, falling 26 points, followed by Jim Carrey with a 21-point dip. Shia LaBeouf and Daniel Craig topped the list of biggest gainers, rising 43 points and 36 points, respectively. The Hot List also charts the world’s leading black, Hispanic, Asian and South Asian stars.

Here is the list of The Ulmer Scale’s Top 10:

1. Will Smith 96
2. Johnny Depp 95
3. Brad Pitt 88
4. Tom Hanks 87
5. George Clooney 86
6. Will Ferrell 85
7. Reese Witherspoon 85
8. Nicolas Cage 84
9. Leonardo DiCaprio 81
10. Russell Crowe 81

The complete 472-page book is on sale at www.ulmerscale.com.

Source: The Ulmer Scale

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• OwnEnergy Scores Key Hires and Tops Off Series A Round
• AnySource Media Selected to Present at Capital Connection ‘09
• Renaissance Financial Corp. Works With Advantage Capital Partners to Move Headquarters to City
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• 2009 International Investment Summit in Dalian Presents Over 100 Premier Chinese Growth Companies
• Venture Capital Veteran John Brooks Joins Life Science Investment Bank Johnston Blakely & Company
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• CPower Secures More Than $10 Million in Series B Round of Financing
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• Charles River Ventures Adds Stanford Professor and Google Principal Engineer Sebastian Thrun as Senior Advisor
• Venture Capital Performance Statistics Decline Across All Time Horizons in the Fourth Quarter
• Ohio Makes It Easy to Find Perfect Location for Capital Investment with Newly Launched OhioInSite.com
• Powerspan Corp. Closes Over $50 Million in New Financing
• JumpStart Has $75 Million Impact on Northeast Ohio

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Source: PR Newswire

The 11th annual InfoTech100 appears on BusinessWeek.com.

BusinessWeek’s InfoTech100
June 1, 2009 Issue

Rank Company Country
————————————————–
1 AMAZON.COM U.S.
2 ORACLE U.S.
3 SAP Germany
4 INVENTEC Taiwan
5 IBM U.S.
6 BHARTI AIRTEL India
7 QUANTA COMPUTER Taiwan
8 WISTRON Taiwan
9 TENCENT HOLDINGS China
10 ACER Taiwan
11 ACCENTURE U.S.
12 MTN GROUP S. Africa
13 HTC Taiwan
14 RESEARCH IN MOTION Canada
15 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS Korea
16 AMERICA MOVIL Mexico
17 SWISSCOM Switz.
18 SAIC U.S.
19 APPLE U.S.
20 HEWLETT-PACKARD U.S.
21 DIMENSION DATA HOLDINGS S. Africa
22 MICROSOFT U.S.
23 CHINA MOBILE China
24 ILIAD France
25 INFOSYS TECHNOLOGIES India
26 ASUSTEK COMPUTER Taiwan
27 NETFLIX U.S.
28 SK TELECOM Korea
29 ERICSSON (LM) TELEFON Sweden
30 TATA CONSULTANCY SERVICES India
31 TELSTRA Australia
32 VERIZON COMMUNICATIONS U.S.
33 BYD China
34 QUALCOMM U.S.
35 TURKCELL ILETISIM HIZMETLERI Turkey
36 VODAFONE GROUP Britain
37 GOOGLE U.S.
38 DELL U.S.
39 ZTE China
40 HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY Taiwan
41 COMPUTERSHARE Australia
42 COMPUTER SCIENCES U.S.
43 WIPRO India
44 ENTEL-EMPRESA NACIONAL TELECOM Chile
45 TELE NORTE LESTE PARTICIPACO Brazil
46 EMBRATEL PARTICIPACOES Brazil
47 PRICELINE.COM U.S.
48 TAIWAN SEMICONDUCTOR MFG. Taiwan
49 NOKIA Finland
50 COMPAL ELECTRONICS Taiwan
51 COGNIZANT TECH SOLUTIONS U.S.
52 SIMPLO TECHNOLOGY Taiwan
53 LG ELECTRONICS Korea
54 VTECH HOLDINGS Hong Kong
55 AUTOMATIC DATA PROCESSING U.S.
56 CISCO SYSTEMS U.S.
57 ROGERS COMMUNICATIONS Canada
58 MCAFEE U.S.
59 FACTSET RESEARCH SYSTEMS U.S.
60 NIPPON TELEGRAPH & TELEPHONE Japan
61 BMC SOFTWARE U.S.
62 AT&T U.S.
63 SYNNEX U.S.
64 AFFILIATED COMPUTER SVCS U.S.
65 LG DISPLAY Korea
66 MULTI-FINELINE ELECTRONIX U.S.
67 L-3 COMMUNICATIONS HLDGS. U.S.
68 LG TELECOM Korea
69 TECH DATA U.S.
70 INTUIT U.S.
71 EMC U.S.
72 BROADCOM U.S.
73 AISINO China
74 PC-WARE INFO TECHNOLOGIES Germany
75 SYBASE U.S.
76 TOKYO ELECTRON Japan
77 METROPCS COMMUNICATIONS U.S.
78 SPECTRIS Britain
79 CHECK POINT SOFTWARE Israel
80 WESTERN DIGITAL U.S.
81 AMPHENOL U.S.
82 HOSIDEN Japan
83 NATIONAL MOBILE TELECOM Kuwait
84 HARRIS U.S.
85 FIDELITY NATIONAL INFO SVCS U.S.
86 SAMSUNG ELECTRO-MECHANICS Korea
87 NASPERS S. Africa
88 HUTCHISON TELECOMMUNICATIONS China
89 SYNOPSYS U.S.
90 TERADATA U.S.
91 CA U.S.
92 GEMALTO Neth.
93 JUNIPER NETWORKS U.S.
94 TKH GROUP Neth.
95 GROUPE STERIA France
96 TELEFONICA DE ARGENTINA Argentina
97 NETAPP U.S.
98 FISERV U.S.
99 ADOBE SYSTEMS U.S.
100 AMDOCS Britain

To compile the InfoTech100, BusinessWeek began with financial data from Standard & Poor’s Compustat, also a division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, that has computerized information on over 30,500 publicly traded corporations. BusinessWeek trimmed this universe to information-technology companies. To qualify, companies had to have revenues of at least $500 million. This collection of about 800 companies was divided into eight industry categories, such as software and semiconductors. Companies whose stock price has dropped more than 50%, whose sales shrank 5% or more, or where other developments raised questions about future performance were eliminated from contention. BusinessWeek also dropped some phone companies whose monopoly or near-monopoly power may give them an advantage over competitors. The remaining group of companies was ranked on four criteria: return on equity, shareholder return and revenue growth (which were given equal weight), and total revenues (which were weighted). The four rankings for each company were added together, and those with the lowest combined score topped the list. The top 100 were then reranked as a group.

Source: BusinessWeek

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