Merriam-Webster Top 10 User-submitted Words

#1: Humble Brag

Definition: a statement that conveys false humility : a brag couched in self-deprecation Example: "Facebook seems to be the perfect place for this. How many status reads have actually been humble brags?" – post on Elizabeth Runs blog, February 25, 2011

 #2: Planking

Definition: a game or activity in which participants lie facedown in unusual locations Example: "Planking has achieved notoriety as an online fad, as people try to plank in the most unlikely places." – Los Angeles Times, July 28, 2011

#3: Capgras' Delusion

Definition: a disorder in which a person falsely believes that a friend or relative has been replaced by an identical impostor Example: "Capgras delusion can be brought about by a variety of conditions – changes in brain chemistry associated with different mental illnesses, or physical trauma to the brain – but the delusion always involves the distinct feeling that the people around you have been replaced by impostors." – Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, NPR Morning Edition, March 30, 2010

#4: Intexticated

Definition: distracted by the act of texting to such a degree that one seems intoxicated Example: "[Justin Bieber] says he was inspired to get involved in the campaign because of the Alex Brown Foundation, which is a charity named after a teenager who died because he was driving while intexticated." – Darian Demetri, Teenchive.com, July 20, 2011

#5: Epic Fail

Definition: (interjection): used to identify something as a complete failure; also (noun) : something that fails completely Example: "Righting the struggling economy through saner, sounder fiscal policies is not the only issue that should be ranked an 'epic fail' on Capitol Hill over the last decade." – Sid Salter, ClarionLedger.com, Aug. 9, 2011

#6: Stuffocation

Definition: the fact of being overwhelmed by the stuff one has bought or accumulated Example: "Over the weekend, I worked on filling two more storage tubs for our local consignment store, as I do every month. ... Regularly consigning two tubs of stuff ... is how I prevent 'stuffocation.'" – post on WantingWhatYouHave.com, September 13, 2010

#7: Kidult

Definition: an adult who behaves like a child Example: "But alpha male has been superseded by omega male, the under-achieving, low-testosterone kidult who lounges at the other end of the blokey spectrum, playing computer games and watching Lost." – Kevin Courtney, Irish Times, July 30, 2011

#8: Tanorexic

Definition: having a compulsion to tan Example: "The cast of 'Jersey Shore' has arrived. Everyone's favorite tanorexic reality stars claimed they had made it after appearing in cartoon form on 'South Park' Wednesday." – Soraya Roberts, New York Daily News, October 14, 2010

#9: Longboard

Definition: a long skate board Example: "A man riding a longboard has hilariously demonstrated how not to dismount while speeding down a road in Portugal." – NineMSN.com, July 22, 2011

#10: Coffice

Definition: a café that a customer uses as a place in which to conduct business Example: "Acceptable 'coffice' etiquette states that something must be ordered during your stay." – post on GetItBusinessServices.com, April 21, 2011

What's Your Blindspot?

Recent Gallop research states everyone is born with a talent he or she can demonstrate with more proficiency than at least 10,000 people. A good education, or employer, helps people unveil and utilize their gift. People who remain stuck in unsatisfying careers don't seem to know themselves, or haven't stumbled into their talent.

Joseph Luft and Harry Ingham created the Johari Window. It's a four panel grid showing what a person knows and doesn't know about oneself with what others know and don't know about a person. The resulting boxes include: public skills, private traits, blind spots, and untapped potential.

Two years ago a Rhode Island high school track athlete was trying different events when his coach suggested he try the long jump and measure his jumping distance. When the student returned with the measuring tape, the coach asked how far he'd jumped.

The student responded: "21 feet". In disbelief, the coach asked him to jump again. The student jumped again. This time, closer to 22 feet. He also jumped six feet, four inches in his first attempt, ever, in the high jump.

This past year, Innocent Jacob led the U.S. indoor jumpers for much of the season with a distance of 24'-01" at Rhode Island Classic. This came a day after his 6'-11" high jump PR ranked him second in the U.S. He has has broken R.I. state long jump record 3 times.

Had not his coach suggested he try the long jump, would Innocent Jacob ever known he had the talent?

Veterans Day. Thank you!

To see previous Veterans Day poster artwork or for a high res copy of this image, go to

http://www.va.gov/opa/vetsday/gallery.asp