tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3271022348837921425.post7616764375475706392..comments2023-10-25T11:19:33.493-04:00Comments on The Steady Drip: MENSA Humor!Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3271022348837921425.post-55048057583186322752010-05-17T19:49:29.101-04:002010-05-17T19:49:29.101-04:00Not "carefully vetted" enough, I'm a...Not "carefully vetted" enough, I'm afraid:<br /><br />Actually, there isn't any "Mensa Invitational," but The Washington Post does have a wonderfully clever humor contest called The Style Invitational. And two Invitational contests from 1998 are the sources of many of the neologisms in the list above. (But not all: For example, "decafalon" isn't a one-letter change from "decathlon," is it? Or "caterpallor"?)<br /><br /> Much better to see the the current Invitational -- every week at washingtonpost.com/styleinvitational. We've had more than 600 contests since the ones above! The Style Invitational is published every Saturday in The Post's Style (features) section, and every Friday afternoon at about 3:30 Eastern time. There are neologism contests regularly, but also lots of other sources of humor as well.<br /><br />For example, here are the top winners of our May 7 neologism contest for single-word spoonerisms -- where the first letters of different syllables were switched:<br /><br />Inpocchio: Imprisonment for lying. (Ann Martin, Bracknell, England)<br /><br />Thirber: Someone who makes up a story about the secret life of another person. (Kathy Hardis Fraeman, Olney, Md.)<br /><br /> Karping: "You'll never fit in that space, Harold. You're too close to the curb, Harold!" (Craig Dykstra, Centreville, Va.)<br /> Scorohope: Believing you'll get lucky because of your sign. (Chris Lopez, Reston, Va.)<br /><br />In another contest, every word had to include a block of three consecutive letters of the alphabet — backward.<br /><br />Flingpong: Having your own affair to get even with a cheating spouse. (Tom Witte, Montgomery Village, Md.)<br /><br />Burpon: Carbonated whiskey. (Barbara Turner, Takoma Park, Md.)<br /><br /><br />Zyxzag: Path created during a DWI test when the cop makes you walk 20 steps while reciting the alphabet in reverse. (Jeff Contompasis, Ashburn, Va.)<br /><br /> <br /><br />See the rest of the winners and learn how to enter the current contest at washingtonpost.com/styleinvitational. Or you can become a fan of "Washington Post Style" on Facebook (go to facebook.com/wapostyle ) and you'll get a link to the Invitational when it's posted. I hope you become a regular reader and maybe even a regular entrant.<br /><br /> <br /><br />Best,<br /><br />The Empress of The Style Invitational<br /><br />The Washington PostPat Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08919206736099677240noreply@blogger.com