Present Tense

It's a cold, cold virtual world indeed. The New Oxford American Dictionary chose Facebook's "unfriend" as its 2009 Word of the Year, according to the OUP blog.

"It has both currency and potential longevity," observed Christine Lindberg, senior lexicographer for Oxford’s U.S. dictionary program. "In the online social networking context, its meaning is understood, so its adoption as a modern verb form makes this an interesting choice for Word of the Year. Most 'un-' prefixed words are adjectives (unacceptable, unpleasant), and there are certainly some familiar 'un-' verbs (uncap, unpack), but 'unfriend' is different from the norm. It assumes a verb sense of 'friend' that is really not used (at least not since maybe the 17th century!). Unfriend has real lex-appeal."

Other finalists for this year's Word of the Year included hashtag, netbook, paywall, sexting, freemium, zombie bank, birther, ecotown and deleb.

1. We have not yet started playing Christmas music.
2. That feeling of self-righteousness over starting so early translates into treating yourself to something as well.
3. You can make a list of all the things you want so that you can hint liberally at Thanksgiving.
4. If there's a hardcover you've been eyeing, you have time to read the whole thing before giving it away.
5. We have free gift wrapping. By Christmas, you’ll forget what it was you bought. Aren't surprises great?
6. The Night Before Christmas is still in stock. You won't have to settle for that one weird one left over on Christmas Eve.
7. You'll bring smiles and joy and a twinkle to the eye of your favorite local, indie bookseller.


**Original list from another great indie bookseller, Bunch of Grapes, in Vineyard Haven MA http://bunchofgrapes.wordpress.com/

And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell

Synopsis: The book is based on the true story of Roy and Silo, two male Chinstrap Penguins in New York's Central Park Zoo. For six years they formed a couple and were given an egg to raise. The book follows part of this time in the penguins' lives.

Reasons: anti-ethnic, anti-family, homosexuality, religious viewpoint, and unsuited to age group