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New York Press puts Verbotomy on The Best of Manhattan

New York Press: Best of Manhattan 2008

The New York Press has launched it’s annual Best of Manhattan issue with cover illustration by James Gang of Verbotomy. See: The Best of Manhattan 2008 in the New York Press

The Best of Manhattan includes 4 Major categories, each of which is illustrated with a Verbotomy comic, definition and invented word.

Services

Take

Bosstitute: /bos-sti-TOOT/ v. tr. To seek approval from your boss by emulating their style, mannerisms or affectations. n. A person who uses such techniques to win favor. Sentence: Irma had survived many bosses in her long career. She developed many survival skills to weather the changes brought on by the next best manager she’d get stuck training. One secret to her success was to bosstitute herself. She figured out early that these guys had such egos, they loved nothing better than gazing in a mirror. So she reinvented herself to copy traits or physical qualities of each boss. There was Rex the cowboy boss, whose inspired her chaps and stetson. There was Richard the Ivy League yuppie who inspired her 3 piece pin-striped suits and designer briefcase. There was Howie, the used car salesman, who inspired her polyester suit and open neck Aloha shirts. There was Hubert the nerd, who inspired her mismatched clothing and pocket protector and glasses with white tape on the frames. And there was the womanizer, Jake, after whom she dressed like a rake. She couldn’t wait to greet her new boss, Davinder Ravinder Pinderjit, in her new Nehru jacket with a marigold lei. Yes, Irma was definitely a bosstitute, a working girl and a hustler! Etymology: boss & substitute & prostitute Created by:Nosila.

Arts & Entertainment

toes

Blooger: /BLOO-ger/ v., To compulsively describe, in excruciating detail, the minute events of one’s everyday life as it happens; especially when assisted by modern information technology systems. Sentence: Ashely was a compulsive twitterer, blogger and videographer. If she did it, she documented it. No detail was ever spared. And no thought was ever given. Unfortunately, she was also a compulsive nose picker, which meant that her bloogers were full of boogers. Etymology: blog +booger Created by: wordmeister.

City Living

Vulcan

Popcult: /pop-cult/ n. A pop culture entertainment property, which has transcended itself and become a de facto religion with legions of devotees, prescribed rituals and sacred texts. Sentence: He knew he belonged in this popcult because he already had a lot of Faith…He also had a lot of Buffy, Willow, Angel, Oz, Xander, Gunn, Wesley, Fred, Anya, Lorne, Giles, Dawn, Connor and Cordelielia…. But Faith was still his favorite. Etymology: pop culture, cult Created by: rikboyee.

Food & Drink

Crust

Liet: /lie-ET/ v. tr. To eat in a peculiar or ritualistic manner in an effort to lose weight while consuming more. n. An idiosyncratic method of eating, usually adopted for “health reasons”. Sentence: She only ate fruit flavored ice cream because she was on a very strict liet. Etymology: lie, diet Created by: rikboyee.

Want more?

If you want to know what’s hot in New York City. Check out the complete issue at: www.nypress.com

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Can Whack the PM accurately predict Canada’s federal election results?

Whack the PM is the election polling game no leader wants to win.

So far our track record is 100%. Can we do it again in 2008? We need your help.

In 2004, Stephen Harper received the most number of whacks, giving him the dubious distinction of being the most despised leader. Whack the PM predicted that Harper would lose the election. And he did. (Click on the image to view it bigger.)

whack the pm final results screen from 2004

You can also read an analysis of the results: 2004 Whack the PM Summary. It shows the issues the leaders were getting whacked for. And the differences by region, right across Canada.

In the 2006 election, Paul Martin received the most number of whacks. We predicted that he would go down to defeat. And he did. Uncanny but true. Correct for both elections.

whack the pm final results screen from 2006

Will Whack the PM accurately predict election results for 2008?

We don’t know. As of today, September 17th, Stephen Harper is leading, which would mean he’ll lose the election. But that can’t be right can it? All of the official polls have Stephen Harper winning the election. So, we’ll just to have to wait and see.

Add your voice by playing www.whackthepm.ca

Summary:

Whack the PM, an online polling game and strategic voting tool at www.whackthepm.ca, is helping Canadians address the election issues and decide who they should vote against.

Whack the PM puts the leaders of the five top parties in a simmering hot tub with tough questions about global warming, the economy, leadership, food safety, Afghanistan, minority governments and the kicker — “All politicians are liars. Why should I trust you?”

With each question, voters respond by whacking the candidate who has the most irritating answer on the head. Using this visceral and interactive process, voters determine which leader is most deserving of their distrust.

Whack the PM offers strategic voting advice on a riding-by-riding basis. It has been designed to select the candidate who has the best chance of defeating your detested leader in your riding. For example, if you want to defeat the Liberals, you may be advised to vote for the NDP, the Tories, or whichever candidate has the best chance to defeat them. It helps voters make the most effective and strategic use of their votes.

2004 and 2006 Media Buzz on Whack the PM:

“The most interesting “poll” to follow this seething country may, in fact, not even be a proper poll at all but a bit of a prank on the Web called Whack the PM. Run by a Toronto visual-arts group called the James Gang, the site has been tracking nothing but public anger — and has run uncannily close to the shifts in the more legitimate polls.” Roy MacGregor, The Globe and Mail

“www.whackthepm.ca, created by the clever and irreverent minds of Bill and Franke James of Toronto’s The James Gang, not only sweetens an otherwise humourless campaign, but also ties a fun game to a (highly informal) poll.” Jack Kapica, The Globe and Mail

“Arguably the most fun un-scientific election prognosticator is the Web site “Whack the PM!” run by the James Gang…” Tom Blackwell, The National Post

“Hot: Whack the PM. The Internet election game has been a big hit during this campaign, and not only in Canada. Recent statistics show that 33 U.S. Government employees have even played the game as well as 230 people in Britain and 11 in Switzerland. Says the game’s operator, Franke James: “I thought the Swiss were neutral.” Jane Taber, The Globe and Mail

2006 Articles:
Jane Taber: Whack the PM is HOT
National Post: Whack the PM is Front Page News
Jack Kapica: Whack-a-pol: Here’s an election poll nobody wants to win