The Washington Post's Mensa 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 winners. Read them carefully. Each is an artificial word with only one letter altered to form a real word. Some are terrifically innovative:
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. *Cashtration* (n.): The act of buying a house, which renders the subject financially impotent for an indefinite period.
5. *Giraffiti* : Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.
6. *Sarchasm* : The gulf between the author of sarcastic wit and the person who doesn't get it.
7. *Inoculatte *: To take coffee intravenously when you are running late.
8. *Hipatitis* : Terminal coolness.
9. *Osteopornosis* : A degenerate disease. (This one got extra credit.)
10. *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.
11. *Decafalon* (n.): The gruelling event of getting through the day consuming only things that are good for you.
12. *Glibido*: All talk and no action.
13. *Dopeler effect*: The tendency of stupid ideas to seem smarter when they come at you rapidly.
14. *Arachnoleptic fit** *(n.): The frantic dance performed just after you've accidentally walked through a spider web.
15. *Beelzebug* (n.): Satan in the form of a mosquito that gets into your bedroom at three in the morning and cannot be cast out.
16. *Caterpallor* (n.): The color you turn after finding half a worm in the fruit you're eating.
And The #1 pick:
17. *Ignoranus*: A person who's both stupid and an a$$hole.
I tried to do one on my own for the various forms of the MOCO...and suddenly realized, I must not be mensa material.
I remain respectfully yours,
Harvey Diddleson