:(

A college up in the U.P. - where English is like a second language to them - has released its annual list of words "to be banned from the Queen's English."

Here's the 2009 list, and here's the whole list going back to 1976, when the list got started.

Included on this year's list, "<3." That's right: the sideways heart is outtahere.

Note: stevegg posted yesterday about Oxford U's top ten most irritating English phrases. Steve's pick - "shovel ready" - isn't on that list, or the Yoopers' list, either, ya der hey.

Anyway, I hear the phrase "shovel ready," and I figure it's a Cicilian talking.