Lake Superior State University “maverick” word-watchers, fresh from the holiday “staycation” but without an economic “bailout” even after a “desperate search,” have issued their 34th annual List of Words to Be Banished from the Queen’s English for Mis-use, Over-use and General Uselessness. This year’s list may be more “green” than any of the previous lists and includes words and phrases that people from “Wall Street to Main Street” say they love “not so much” and wish to have erased from their “carbon footprint.”

“Green” and “going green” received the most nominations. Here is the list, with comments from people who nominated the word:

Green – The ubiquitous ‘Green’ and all of its variables, such as ‘going green,’ ‘building green,’ ‘greening,’ ‘green technology,’ ‘green solutions’ and more, drew the most attention from those who sent in nominations this year.

Carbon footprint / carbon offsetting – “It is now considered fashionable for everyone, tree hugger or lumberjack alike, to pay money to questionable companies to ‘offset’ their own ‘carbon footprint.’ What a scam! Get rid of it immediately!” Ginger Hunt, London, England.

Maverick – “The constant repetition of this word for months before the U.S. election diluted whatever meaning it previously had. Even the comic offshoot ‘mavericky’ was terribly overused. A minimum five-year banishment of both words is suggested so they will not be available during the next federal election.” Matthew Mattila, Green Bay, Wisc.

First Dude – “Skateboard English is not an appropriate way to refer to the spouse of a high-ranking public official.” Paul Ruschmann, Canton, Mich.

Bailout – “Use of emergency funds to remove toxic assets from banks’ balance sheets is not a bailout. When your cousin calls you from jail in the middle of the night, he wants a bailout.” Ben Green, State College, Penn.

Wall Street / Main Street – “When this little dyad first came into use at the start of the financial crisis, I thought it was a clever use of parallelism. But it’s simply over-used. No ’serious’ discussion of the crisis can take place without some political figure lamenting the fact that the trouble on Wall Street is affecting ‘folks’ on Main Street.” Charles Harrison, Aiken, SC.

-Monkey – “Especially on the Internet, many people seem to think they can make any boring name sound more attractive just by adding the word ‘monkey’ to it. Do a search to find the latest. It is no longer funny.” Rogier Landman, Somerville, Mass.

Icon / Iconic – Overused, especially among entertainers and in entertainment news, according to Robyn Yates of Dallas, who says that “every actor, actress and entertainment magazine show overuses this.” One of the most-nominated words of the year. “Everyone and everything cannot be ‘iconic.’ Can’t we switch to ‘legendary’ or ‘famous for’? In our entertainment-driven culture, it seems everyone in show business is ‘iconic’ for some reason or another. “John Flood, Bray, Wicklow, Ireland. “It’s becoming the new ‘awesome’ – overused to the point where everything from a fast-food restaurant chain to celebrities is ‘iconic.’” Jodi Gill, New Berlin, Wisc. “Just because a writer recognizes something does not make it an icon (a visual symbol or representation which inspires worship or veneration) or iconic. It just means that the writer has seen it before.” Brian Murphy, Fairfield, Conn.

Game Changer – “It’s game OVER for this cliché, which gets overused in the news media, political arenas and in business.” Cynthia, Mt. Pleasant, Mich.

Staycation – “Occurrences of this word are going up with gas prices.’Vacation’ does not mean ‘travel,’ nor does travel always involve vacation. Let’s send this word on a slow boat to nowhere.” Dan Muldoon, Omaha, Neb.

Desperate search – “Every time the news can’t find something intelligent to report, they start on a ‘desperate search’ for someone, somewhere.” Rick A. Hyatt, Saratoga, Wyo.

Not so much – “I wish that the phrase was used not so much,” says Tom Benson of Milwaukee, who notes that it is used widely in news media, especially in sports, i.e. ‘The Gophers have a shot at the playoffs; the Chipmunks, not so much.’ “Casual language usage is acceptable. ‘Not so much?’ Not so much.” David Hollis, Hubbardsville, NY. “Do I like concise writing? Yes. Do I like verbose clichés? Not so much.” David W. Downing, St. Paul, Minn. “A favorite of snarky critics and bloggers.” Jeff Baenen, Minneapolis, Minn.

Winner of five nominations – “It hasn’t won an Academy Award yet. It has only been NOMINATED!” John Bohenek, Abilene, Tex.

It’s that time of year again – Nominated by Kathleen Brosemer of Sault Ste. Marie, Ont., for “general overuse and meaninglessness. When is it not ‘that time of year again?’ From Valentine’s sales to year-end charity letters, invitations to summer picnics and Christmas parties, it’s ‘that time’ of year again. Just get to the point of the solicitation, invitation, and newsletter and cut out six useless and annoying words.”

Read more comments on these words at the Lake Superior State University web site.

Go to Original Six’s Green Halloween page for more details:

1. Make your own costume from reusable/recyclable materials or thrift store purchases.

2. Make your own decorations from reusable/recyclable materials.

3. Send party invitations by email rather than using paper.

4. Look for fair trade and/or organic treats with natural coloring and flavoring.

5. Use cloth or canvas bags (or pillowcases) for collecting candy, rather than paper or plastic.

6. Compost your food waste after the party.

7. If possible, walk, bike, carpool or take public transportation to and from parties.

8. Trick or treat for a good cause.

9. Use beeswax or soy candles instead of paraffin-based ones.

10. Save candy wrappers and dispose of them properly – don’t litter!

The experts at Amazon.com listed the characteristics to look for in toys that can be considered “green”:

Rubberwood Toys — Rubber trees produce latex that is then used to make rubber. When the trees fully mature, they no longer produce latex and are burned. Some toy companies are now taking this abandoned rubberwood and making beautiful toys. Many of these trees are also grown without pesticides, making them organic as well as sustainable.

Bamboo Toys — Bamboo is a sustainable tall grass that grows abundantly and without need for much care or water. An entire forest can regenerate in just three short years. Easy to grow and easy to maintain, bamboo is also light, flexible and a wonderful material from which to craft green toys.

Organic Cotton — Organic cotton is cotton that is grown without the use of harmful pesticides. Organic cotton is also grown using plants that have not been genetically modified. The growth of conventional cotton uses more pesticides than any other crop and accounts for a large percentage of the world’s pesticide use. The use of organic cotton reduces the amount of these chemicals entering the watershed and also from irritating your child’s skin.

Recycled Toys — Manufacturers that make recycled toys use materials that have been previously utilized and then turn them into new playthings. Some companies, such as Green Toys, are using recycled plastic from used milk jugs and making colorful, safe, and fun preschool toys such as tea sets and beach buckets.

Environmental Packaging — Many toy companies are now working toward making packaging friendlier for the environment. Cutting down on the plastic packaging and using packing materials that can be recycled are just two of the ways that toy companies are helping to reduce the impact your purchases have on the earth.

Source: Amazon.com

See GREEN TOYS AND GAMES at Amazon.com

See all Toys lists

Related story:

• Green Right Now: Toys, toys, toys: ‘Tis the season for research and reason

Gartner, Inc., analysts have announced their top 10 technologies and trends that will be strategic for most organizations. The analysts presented their findings during the annual Gartner Symposium/ITxpo in orlando.

Gartner defines a strategic technology as one with the potential for significant impact on the enterprise in the next three years. Factors that denote significant impact include a high potential for disruption to IT or the business, the need for a major dollar investment, or the risk of being late to adopt.

The top 10 strategic technologies for 2009 include:

Virtualization – Much of the current buzz is focused on server virtualization, but virtualization in storage and client devices is also moving rapidly. Virtualization to eliminate duplicate copies of data on the real storage devices while maintaining the illusion to the accessing systems that the files are as originally stored (data deduplication) can significantly decrease the cost of storage devices and media to hold information. Hosted virtual images deliver a near-identical result to blade-based PCs. But, instead of the motherboard function being located in the data center as hardware, it is located there as a virtual machine bubble. However, despite ambitious deployment plans from many organizations, deployments of hosted virtual desktop capabilities will be adopted by fewer than 40 percent of target users by 2010.

Cloud Computing — Cloud computing is a style of computing that characterizes a model in which providers deliver a variety of IT-enabled capabilities to consumers. They key characteristics of cloud computing are 1) delivery of capabilities “as a service,” 2) delivery of services in a highly scalable and elastic fashion, 3) using Internet technologies and techniques to develop and deliver the services, and 4) designing for delivery to external customers. Although cost is a potential benefit for small companies, the biggest benefits are the built-in elasticity and scalability, which not only reduce barriers to entry, but also enable these companies to grow quickly. As certain IT functions are industrializing and becoming less customized, there are more possibilities for larger organizations to benefit from cloud computing.

Servers — Beyond Blades – Servers are evolving beyond the blade server stage that exists today. This evolution will simplify the provisioning of capacity to meet growing needs. The organization tracks the various resource types, for example, memory, separately and replenishes only the type that is in short supply. This eliminates the need to pay for all three resource types to upgrade capacity. It also simplifies the inventory of systems, eliminating the need to track and purchase various sizes and configurations. The result will be higher utilization because of lessened “waste” of resources that are in the wrong configuration or that come along with the needed processors and memory in a fixed bundle.

Web-Oriented Architectures – The Internet is arguably the best example of an agile, interoperable and scalable service-oriented environment in existence. This level of flexibility is achieved because of key design principles inherent in the Internet/Web approach, as well as the emergence of Web-centric technologies and standards that promote these principles. The use of Web-centric models to build global-class solutions cannot address the full breadth of enterprise computing needs. However, Gartner expects that continued evolution of the Web-centric approach will enable its use in an ever-broadening set of enterprise solutions during the next five years.

Enterprise Mashups – Enterprises are now investigating taking mashups from cool Web hobby to enterprise-class systems to augment their models for delivering and managing applications. Through 2010, the enterprise mashup product environment will experience significant flux and consolidation, and application architects and IT leaders should investigate this growing space for the significant and transformational potential it may offer their enterprises.

Specialized Systems – Appliances have been used to accomplish IT purposes, but only with a few classes of function have appliances prevailed. Heterogeneous systems are an emerging trend in high-performance computing to address the requirements of the most demanding workloads, and this approach will eventually reach the general-purpose computing market. Heterogeneous systems are also specialized systems with the same single-purpose imitations of appliances, but the heterogeneous system is a server system into which the owner installs software to accomplish its function.

Social Software and Social Networking – Social software includes a broad range of technologies, such as social networking, social collaboration, social media and social validation. Organizations should consider adding a social dimension to a conventional Web site or application and should adopt a social platform sooner, rather than later, because the greatest risk lies in failure to engage and thereby, being left mute in a dialogue where your voice must be heard.

Unified Communications – During the next five years, the number of different communications vendors with which a typical organization works with will be reduced by at least 50 percent. This change is driven by increases in the capability of application servers and the general shift of communications applications to common off-the-shelf server and operating systems. As this occurs, formerly distinct markets, each with distinct vendors, converge, resulting in massive consolidation in the communications industry. Organizations must build careful, detailed plans for when each category of communications function is replaced or converged, coupling this step with the prior completion of appropriate administrative team convergence.

Business Intelligence – Business Intelligence (BI), the top technology priority in Gartner’s 2008 CIO survey, can have a direct positive impact on a company’s business performance, dramatically improving its ability to accomplish its mission by making smarter decisions at every level of the business from corporate strategy to operational processes. BI is particularly strategic because it is directed toward business managers and knowledge workers who make up the pool of thinkers and decision makers that are tasked with running, growing and transforming the business. Tools that let these users make faster, better and more-informed decisions are particularly valuable in a difficult business environment.

Green IT – Shifting to more efficient products and approaches can allow for more equipment to fit within an energy footprint, or to fit into a previously filled center. Regulations are multiplying and have the potential to seriously constrain companies in building data centers, as the effect of power grids, carbon emissions from increased use and other environmental impacts are under scrutiny. Organizations should consider regulations and have alternative plans for data center and capacity growth.

Source: Gartner, Inc.

The Ethisphere Institute, publisher of the quarterly Ethisphere magazine, has announced a list of what it calls the “Global Sustainability Centers of 2020.” Listing 10 large and 10 mid-sized cities (a population of 600,000 was the dividing line), the report honors municipalities who have built “strong and principled foundations” and long-term city planning. While environmental and sustainability considerations are listed first among the criteria, they weren’t the only factors considered; the think tank also evaluated quality-of-life issues like arts and education, transportation, and business planning.

Large Cities

• Toronto, Canada — Population: 2,480,000
• Singapore, Singapore — Population: 4,600,000
• Hyberabad, India — Population: 9,200,000
• Cape Town, South Africa — Population: 2,480,000
• Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates — Population: 1,400,000
• New York City, United States — Population: 8,200,000
• London, United Kingdom — Population: 7,400,000
• Melbourne, Australia — Population: 3,592,000
• Curitiba, Brazil — Population: 1,800,000
• Frankfurt, Germany — Population: 660,000

Mid-Sized Cities

• Copenhagen, Denmark — Population: 509,000
• Doha, Qatar — Population: 339,000
• Edinburgh, United Kingdom — Population: 430,000
• Helsinki, Finland –  Population: 564,000
• Oslo, Norway — Population: 560,000
• Portland, United States — Population: 568,000
• Reykjavik, Iceland — Population: 115,000
• Victoria, Canada — Population: 78,000
• Wellington, New Zealand — Population: 190,500
• Rotterdam, The Netherlands — Population: 596,000

For more on the report, go to Green Right Now.

As motorists across the country struggle with $4 per gallon gasoline costs and search for ways they can reduce their impact on the environment, Enterprise Rent-A-Car is offering 10 Keys to “Green” Driving – useful tips that drivers can use to cut down on fuel use and save money:

1. Lighten your load: The more weight a car carries, the lower its fuel economy will be. On road trips, while it’s tempting to pack everything – kitchen sink included – it’s smart to leave heavy, unnecessary items behind. And, even for your day-to-day travel, take a few minutes to clean out your car to eliminate extra weight. Pack only what you need (including emergency items) for vacations, and remove unneeded items from your back seat and trunk. These simple steps can cut significant weight, enabling your car to use less fuel.

2. Reduce your speed and keep the RPMs down: As speed increases, so does drag. So, driving at higher speeds will reduce your fuel economy. In fact, for every 10 miles per hour you reduce speed, you improve your fuel economy by 4 mpg. In addition, avoid putting the pedal to the metal when the stoplight turns green, which increases your vehicle’s RPM level and lowers your fuel efficiency. For automatic transmission vehicles, accelerating gently prompts automatic gear shifting at lower engine speeds; with a manual transmission, the general rule is to shift gears between 2,000 and 2,500 RPM. Staying at or a bit below the speed limit and watching your RPMs can have a big impact on the environment and your bank account.

3. Plan routes in advance and combine trips: Whether gearing up for a weeklong vacation or a quick trip to the mall, plan out your route in advance to avoid heavy traffic times and areas. Sometimes, the shortest route can consume more fuel than a longer one, if rush hour or road construction leads to traffic jams and stop-and-go driving. And, warmed-up engines produce lower emissions, so try to combine several short trips into one to save fuel and cut down on pollution. Try to anticipate your errands and plan to knock them all out in one day, if not one stop.

4. Buy for the need; rent for the exception: Whether you are planning to rent or purchase a new vehicle, why choose more car than you need? More fuel efficient vehicles burn less fuel, which means less pollution. Research the fuel economy of various makes and models, including hybrids, and find the most environmentally friendly vehicle that fits your needs. And, for those occasions when your day-to-day vehicle won’t fit the bill, it’s easy to rent something that will. Whether buying or renting, focus on what you need.

5. Use the right fuel: Most cars don’t need premium fuel – although some vehicles do call for higher octane gas to maximize performance and fuel efficiency. Check your owner’s manual when choosing what grade of gasoline to use, and don’t spend the extra money on a premium grade if you don’t need to. If you have a FlexFuel vehicle, which is able to use E85 fuel (a blend of 85 percent ethanol and 15 percent gasoline), take a minute to locate E85 fueling stations near you by visiting www.e85refueling.com. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, using E85 can reduce greenhouse gas emissions by up to 20 percent.

6. Avoid the top off: Drivers often top off their tank beyond the gas pump’s automatic cutoff point to get an even total or to squeeze in as much fuel as possible. But that extra squeeze can lead to spills and release gas vapors into the air. This wastes money and pollutes the air, even aggravating smog in bigger cities.

7. Carpool: Why have two or more cars on the road when one can get the job done? Set up a carpool group with several colleagues at work, or coordinate with family and friends to carpool for regular errands such as grocery shopping. Fewer vehicles on the road mean fewer pollutants in the air.

8. Keep tires properly inflated: Maintaining proper tire inflation levels can improve fuel economy. Tires lose air pressure over time and due to cold temperatures. As that air pressure decreases, rolling resistance increases, making your vehicle less fuel efficient. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual will show you the proper inflation levels.

9. Give the brake a break: Even after planning ahead, you may find yourself stuck in a traffic jam. When you do, be smart as you navigate your way through it. Avoid jack-rabbit starts and keep your acceleration moderate and steady, because cars use the most gas when they accelerate. Create space from the car in front of you, and look ahead for any potential slowdowns so you can ease off the gas rather than slam on the brake.

10. Cool off wisely: A common mistake drivers make is kicking off the air conditioning and rolling down their windows to save gas, regardless of circumstance. It is true that rolling down the windows in lieu of the AC can increase fuel economy at slower speeds, but at faster highway speeds, open windows can actually increase drag and hurt fuel economy. So, consider the weather – and your speed – before deciding how to stay cool on the go.

For more information, read about Enterprise’s environmental stewardship initiatives.

Source: Business Wire

According to the results of a nationwide Harris Poll of 2,602 U.S. adults, 53 percent of those surveyed said they have taken steps to green their life. The survey was done online between May 5 and 12, 2008 by Harris Interactive with input from The Nature Conservancy. Of those who are making changes to live a greener lifestyle, the most popular actions include:

• Recycling (91 percent)
• Paying bills online (73 percent)
• Trying to buy locally-produced food and/or goods (49 percent)
• Buying green household products (47 percent)
• Bringing their own reusable bags to stores instead of using paper or plastic (39 percent)
• Carpooling (16 percent)
• Driving less by combining errands, walking more, etc. (5 percent)
• Reduced their utility use (4 percent)
• Purchased hybrid cars (3 percent)
• Changed out incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent ones (3 percent)

Source: Harris Interactive 

For more on green living, visit greenrightnow.com

Check out your kitchen.

Most appliances consume electricity. Worse yet, some of them run constantly. According to one study, the average American family spends $126 a year…just to keep the refrigerator running.

Some of that probably can’t be avoided, but a bit more efficiency can make a difference.

Forbes has put together a list of Stylish Green Kitchen Gear. Here are a few of the highlights:

– Sub Zero 601R Refrigerator ($4,310 to $5,870)

– NatureMill Automatic Indoor Composter ($449)

– 30″ Viking Professional Series All-Induction Cooktop ($2,200)

– Bosch Evolution 800 Series Dishwasher ($1,549)

– Everbrew Built-In Coffeemaker ($1,249)

– Tanita Solar Power Kitchen Scale ($60)

Find out more about these cutting-edge appliances at Forbes.