Banish’d Words & Phrases 2012

seal01HEREWITH, the following Words and Phrases are ordered Banish’d from the common speech as Damning Evidence of groupthink, known to be detrimental to the Rever’d Gift of Free Will:

  • Drill down
  • Double down
  • Artisinal
  • Low-hanging fruit
  • I’m just saying (a perennial Banishment entry, alas)
  • Awesome sauce (or anything-sauce)
  • Meh
  • Douche (in an Adjectival state)
  • I think I threw up in my mouth a little (this Devil has resisted many previous Proclamations)
  • Threw him under the bus
  • Sustainable (most especially in reference to the marketing of Productes)
  • Bespoke
  • Man cave
  • Epic fail
  • Reboot
  • Not so much
  • Skin in the game

Special consideration is being given to explanatory sentences beginning with the word “So,” as there seems to be a highly infectious plague of them among talk-show guests.

The gentle quality of Mercy suggests that users of such Banish’d Words and Phrases be treated not with Scorn or Derision but with heartfelt Pity, and generally Punish’d subsequent to their thoughtless usage by a downward Gaze and a small shake of the Head.

New (& Free!) Novelette at Subterranean

Subterranean has released my new novelette “Hard Silver” on their most excellent online magazine. It’s an idea I’ve been wanting to do for many years, and I’m so glad I finally got around to writing it, because it was a big honkin’ bag o’ fun to do.

“Hard Silver” is a fantasy Western, and my take on two genre tropes that were destined to cross paths, but astonishingly never have till now (as far as I’m aware, anyhow).

Even better, it’s free freeĀ FREE! So don’t be shy — read! Repost! Link! Let all the Intertubes behold its mighty presence! Bookmark it to jog your memory come awards time. Moo hoo, hah hah. (Did I mention that it’s free?)