The Washington Post's Style Invitational once again asked

readers to take any word from the dictionary, alter it by

adding, subtracting, or changing one letter, and supply a new

definition. Here are this year's (2003) winners:

1. Intaxication: Euphoria at getting a tax refund, which lasts

until you realize it was your money to start with.

2. Reintarnation: Coming back to life as a hillbilly.

3. Bozone (n.): The substance surrounding stupid people that

stops bright ideas from penetrating. The bozone layer,

unfortunately, shows little sign of breaking down in the near

future.

4. Giraffiti: Vandalism spray painted very, very high.

5. Sarchasm: The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and

the person who doesn't get it.

6. Inoculatte: To take coffee intravenously when you are

running late.

7. Hipatitis: Terminal coolness.

8. Osteopornosis: A degenerate disease. (This one got extra

credit.)

9. Karmageddon: It's like, when everybody is sending off all

these really bad vibes, right? And then, like, the Earth

explodes and it's like, a serious bummer.

10. Decafalon (n.): The grueling event of getting through the

day consuming only things that are good for you.

11. Dopeler effect: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem

smarter when they come at you rapidly.

12. Arachnoleptic fit (n.): The frantic dance performed just

after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.

13. Beelzebug (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets

into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast

out.

14. Caterpallor (n.): The color you turn after finding half

a grub in the fruit you're eating.

And the pick of the literature:

15. Ignoranus: A person who's both stupid and an [delete].