Actually, there isn't such a thing as the "Mensa Invitational." But The
Washington Post does have a wonderfully clever humor contest called The Style
Invitational. And two Invitational contests from back in 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"?)
Much better to see the current Invitational -- every
week at washingtonpost.com/styleinvitational. We've had more than 800 contests
since the ones above! The Style Invitational is published every Sunday in The
Post's Style (features) section, and every Thursday online. The contests
encompass a wide variety of humor genres, from cartoon captions to song
parodies, but there are often neologism contests like the above ones as well. In
fact, we just ran one asking people to make a new word out of a place name. The
winner: From "Russia," USSRia -- Putin's grand vision.
See the rest of
the winners and learn how to enter the current contest at
washingtonpost.com/styleinvitational. Or you can join the group "Style
Invitational Devotees" on Facebook or contact me at pat.myers@washpost.com 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.
Best, Pat Myers
The
Empress of The Style Invitational
The Washington
Post
pat.myers@washpost.com
Thank you Pat Myers....
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