'Monsignor Meth' admits to drug possession charge

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) ? A suspended Roman Catholic priest accused of making more than $300,000 in methamphetamine sales out of his Connecticut apartment while running an adult video and sex toy shop pleaded guilty Tuesday to a federal drug charge.

Kevin Wallin, 61, of Waterbury, admitted to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute methamphetamine and was scheduled to be sentenced June 25. The prosecution and defense agreed on a sentence of 11 to 14 years in prison.

Prosecutors said the 61-year-old Wallin had meth mailed to him from co-conspirators in California and sold the drugs out of his Waterbury apartment last year. He also bought an adult video and sex toy shop in North Haven named Land of Oz & Dorothy's Place, apparently to launder the drug money, authorities said.

Wearing a beige prison jumpsuit and sporting a goatee and close-cropped hair, Wallin acknowledged in court that the drug operation involved nearly four pounds of methamphetamine. He said "yes" several times as the judge asked whether he understood the consequences of his plea.

Wallin, former pastor at St. Augustine Parish in Bridgeport, appeared to have no supporters in the courtroom. He was led out of the room in handcuffs and remains detained.

Charges against four other people arrested in the case are pending.

"We're glad to have resolved this part of the case," Connecticut U.S. Attorney David B. Fein said outside the courtroom. "It's a serious conspiracy charge involving a very dangerous drug."

Wallin's public defender, Kelly Barrett, declined to comment.

Dubbed in some media as "Monsignor Meth," Wallin was pastor of St. Augustine Parish for nine years until he resigned in June 2011, citing health and personal reasons. He previously served six years as pastor of St. Peter's Church in Danbury until 2002.

"Msgr. Wallin's guilty plea represents an important step in his coming to terms with his own actions and their impact on others," the Diocese of Bridgeport said in a statement. "It is a difficult moment for all of us but we hope it is also the first step in rebuilding his life. We pray that he moves toward healing and wholeness."

The diocese had suspended him from public ministry last May amid concerns by church officials about a number of problems with Wallin, including sexually inappropriate behavior with other men in the church rectory, Wallace said. Church leaders weren't aware of Wallin's involvement with drugs at the time of the suspension, diocese spokesman Brian D. Wallace said.

Wallace said Wallin now faces the prospect of removal from the priesthood by the Vatican, a process called laicization.

Wallin was arrested in January, and a grand jury indicted him and four other people on drug charges.

An undercover officer bought meth from Wallin six times from Sept. 20 to Jan. 2, paying more than $3,400 in total for 23 grams of the drug, authorities said.

Federal agents said they learned through wiretaps and informants about other sales Wallin was making.

On social media, people couldn't help but compare Wallin with Walter White, the main character on the TV show "Breaking Bad," who was making so much cash that he and his wife bought a car wash to launder their profits.

Also charged in the case were Kenneth Devries of Waterbury; Michael Nelson of Manchester; Chad McCluskey of San Clemente, Calif.; and Kristen Laschober of Laguna Niguel, Calif. Authorities say McCluskey and Laschober were involved in the shipping of methamphetamine to Wallin.

All four of those defendants have pleaded not guilty.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/suspended-conn-priest-admits-meth-charge-151427977.html

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New Jersey boardwalks will return by summer

Most New Jersey boardwalks damaged or destroyed by Superstorm Sandy will be rebuilt by Memorial Day weekend.

An Associated Press survey of shore communities that bore the brunt of Sandy found only three where portions of boardwalk are not expected to be open by the traditional start of the summer season.

Seaside Heights expects the main section of its boardwalk to be rebuilt by the holiday, with the rest complete by mid-June.

Sea Girt says a three-block stretch of its 3/4 mile boardwalk won't be finished by Memorial Day. But the town says that work should be done by June 1.

A mile-long stretch of old boardwalk on the southern end of Long Branch won't be rebuilt this year. But a newer boardwalk and paved promenade that had minimal damage are already open.

Shore officials are eager to assure a successful tourist season, even if it means making only temporary fixes now, as in Asbury Park. That city's commerce director, Tom Gilmour, said officials were adamant about having the entire boardwalk open the Saturday before Memorial Day weekend to show "we are back and ready."

Here is where boardwalk projects stand, based on interviews with officials in each town:

___

ASBURY PARK: A fourth of the one-mile boardwalk was damaged, but the city was able to salvage materials to make both permanent and temporary fixes, with the goal of opening the entire boardwalk May 18. Permanent fixes to parts of the boardwalk near Convention Hall will be made in the fall. Total costs are projected at close to $3 million. For financial and environmental reasons, a tropical rain forest wood called ipe (pronounced EE'-pay) will be replaced with yellow pine.

AVON: About 80 percent of the 6/10-of-a-mile boardwalk was destroyed. It is being rebuilt with ipe, despite protests by environmentalists, with a target completion date of May 15. Costs are estimated at about $2 million.

BELMAR: The borough has raised more than $500,000 in public donations through its "Buy a Board" campaign. But that is just a fraction of the estimated $10 million it cost to build a new 1.3-mile boardwalk. A ribbon-cutting is expected in mid-May. The new boardwalk is being built of Trex, a composite of wood and recycled plastic.

BRADLEY BEACH: A nearly mile-long paved walkway escaped severe damage but a 650-foot wooden boardwalk was destroyed. The boardwalk will be replaced by concrete; township officials are shooting to have it built by Memorial Day at a cost of more than $2 million.

LAVALLETTE: Three-fourths of the more than one-mile boardwalk was damaged in Sandy and the town is about halfway done with repairs. A "Buy a Board" program has netted more than $180,000 from 720 boards but all 10,600 are up for grabs. Total cost will run $1.3 million and expected completion is May 20.

LONG BRANCH: A mile-long stretch of an old boardwalk on the southern end that was destroyed will not be rebuilt this year; township officials are waiting to see how much federal aid they can get for the project. North of that, a one-mile section of newer boardwalk and a paved promenade are open. The borough has closed off one lane of Ocean Avenue to traffic, making it for pedestrians only, to compensate for the loss of boardwalk.

MANASQUAN: Work on Manasquan's mile-long blacktop beach walk is scheduled for completion by April 19. One-third of the blacktop was broken up and washed away. Total cost of repairs is estimated at just under $500,000.

POINT PLEASANT: About half its nearly one-mile boardwalk was damaged. Reconstruction on an 800-foot-stretch includes fixes to damage from both Tropical Storm Irene and Sandy. The total cost of repairs is estimated to be nearly $2 million. The borough is on schedule to complete repairs by May 23.

SEA GIRT: Reconstruction on the 3/4-mile boardwalk is under way in two phases with some completion expected in May. A three-block span of the northern end of the boardwalk should be open no later than June 1. The borough will use the same Trex material it had before. It was able to salvage the concrete bases of 20 of 133 benches that will be rebuilt and placed on the new boardwalk. Total cost of boardwalk reconstruction is estimated at about $1 million.

SEASIDE HEIGHTS: The entire mile-long boardwalk was destroyed by Sandy, including Casino Pier, resulting in the JetStar rollercoaster being dumped into the ocean. The borough is about one-third of the way through repairs. It is on track to have the main thoroughfare up and running by Memorial Day with completion set for June 15. The borough's $8 million in reconstruction expenses, which does not include cleanup and repairs to Casino Pier, meant a hike in daily adult beach fees from $5 to $6 for the first time in years.

SPRING LAKE: The two-mile boardwalk was destroyed; half has already been rebuilt. But a delay in deliveries of materials, including lumber, put some work on hold. Borough officials still intend to have the entire boardwalk done by Memorial Day. Total cost of reconstruction is estimated at $4 million.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ap-survey-most-nj-boardwalks-rebuilt-soon-193957463.html

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Contestant shoots down Levine on 'The Voice'

By Craig Berman, TODAY contributor

Trae Patton / NBC

Audrey Karrasch wasn't shy about telling coach Adam Levine exactly what was on her mind.

Blake Shelton went 1-2 on Tuesday night?s blind audition episode of ?The Voice,? ending Adam Levine?s one-night run of stealing his country acts, but losing a former model to Usher?s winning smile.

Ironically, the singer Blake liked first is the one who got away.

Audrey Karrasch not only had the looks and the voice to succeed, she?s also got the spunk. Three of the four judges turned their chairs around for her, with Blake doing so a nanosecond after her first note. But when Adam, the lone judge to keep his back to her, tried to offer her advice, she shot him down.

?You didn't even turn around. Why do you care?" she said, instantly becoming a fan favorite. Because who hasn?t wanted to say that to Adam, or any of the other judges, at some point this season?

Audrey eventually went with Usher, but Blake had better luck with the final singer of the night.

Savannah Berry got everyone but Usher to turn around with one of the most memorable vocals of a bland night. This time, it was Adam who was instantly smitten while Blake held off until late in the song. But when she cited Miranda Lambert as one of her influences, Adam closed his eyes and banged the back of his head against the chair. Not surprisingly, the 17-year-old who once sang with Sugarland went with Mr. Miranda Lambert.

?It?s so easy. It?s just so easy,? Blake said. It was especially easy to predict because he hadn?t won a featured contestant yet on the episode, and the credits were about to roll.

Aside from that, both Shakira and Usher were the lone judges to have faith in a particular contestant. Brandon Rouch won over the never-to-be-underestimated Colombian with his cover of ?With a Little Help from My Friends,? while Orlando Dixon?s family sounded like they had already given up by the time Usher turned around his chair at the last minute.

Memphis, Tenn., native Patrick Dodd went wild and crazy and sang Mark Cohn?s ?Walking in Memphis.? His raspy voice compelled both Adam and Shakira to compete for him, with the Maroon 5 frontman taking the honors.

?Shakira deserves him and you ought to be ashamed of yourself,? Blake told Adam.

Agina Alvarez wasn?t featured, but longtime fans of the show will remember her from her failed audition a year ago. Her second chance (well, fourth chance if you count the two failed record deals that were discussed last season) paid off, and she?ll be on Team Adam this time around.

Betsy Barta wasn?t so lucky, as the street musician didn?t inspire anyone to pick her.

With one more week to go in the auditions, Shakira has nine singers under her wing, with three spots left to fill. Adam and Usher each have eight, while Blake still has room for a lot of Miranda Lambert disciples as he has just seven of his 12 spots taken.

Which hopeful was your favorite of the night? Tell us on our Facebook page!

Related content:

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Source: http://theclicker.today.com/_news/2013/04/02/17575429-contestant-shoots-down-adam-levine-on-the-voice?lite

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A step toward democracy: Privately owned newspapers return to Myanmar

In Myanmar the state has monopolized the daily press since the 1960s, but on Monday, privately owned daily newspapers will hit the streets once again. The change is part of reform efforts by President Thein Sein.?

By Aye Aye Win,?Associated Press / March 31, 2013

Kyaw Min Swe, chief editor in The Voice newspaper, holds a copy of his daily in his office in Yangon, Myanmar, Sunday. The reform process under President Thein Sein, who took office two years ago this month, has included the abolition of direct censorship of local media. On Monday, independent daily newspapers will be able to publish for the first time since 1964.

Khin Maung Win/AP

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For most people in Myanmar, it will be a novelty when privately run daily newspapers hit the streets on Monday. Many weren't even born when the late dictator Ne Win imposed a state monopoly on the daily press in the 1960s.

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But for 81-year-old Khin Maung Lay, the rebirth of daily newspapers is like a second lease on life. He is chief editor of Golden Fresh Land, one of four dailies going on sale Monday as Myanmar takes another step in its march toward democracy.

He's old enough to recall there once had been a big and vibrant daily press in the Burmese, English, Indian and Chinese languages in the period of parliamentary democracy after Myanmar, known then as Burma, won independence from Britain in 1948.

Khin Maung Lay worked as a senior newsman at the Burmese language Mogyo daily before it was driven out of business by government pressure in 1964.

Now as chief editor of Golden Fresh Land ? the name sounds less awkward in the original Burmese ? he heads a team of young journalists he recruited from various weeklies, who have only the briefest of acquaintances with the concept of a free press, having grown up under the military government that ruled for five decades. They are up against some media behemoths and papers belonging to the country's top political parties.

Khin Maung Lay acknowledges there are innumerable challenges ahead, but said he is ready to face them "in the name of freedom of press." He's well acquainted with the cutting edge of the concept ? he went to jail three times under Ne Win, including a three-year stretch in "protective custody," a catch-all phrase the military regime used as a reason for imprisoning critics.

"I foresee several hurdles along the way," he said. "However, I am ready to run the paper in the spirit of freedom and professionalism taught by my peers during the good old days."

The newspaper renaissance is part of the reform efforts of President Thein Sein, who, after serving as prime minister in the previous military regime, took office in March 2011 as head of an elected civilian government. Political and economic liberalization were at the top of his agenda, in an effort to boost national development.

The press has been a major beneficiary. The government lifted censorship in August last year, allowing reporters to print material that would have been unthinkable under military rule.

It's not smooth sailing yet. The draconian 1962 Printing and Registration Act remains in place until a new media law is enacted. It carries a maximum seven-year prison term for failure to register and allows the government to revoke publishing licenses at any time.

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/B3iDUAclI8g/A-step-toward-democracy-Privately-owned-newspapers-return-to-Myanmar

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RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Marvel's

News ? Columns ? RT On DVD ? RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: Marvel's

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Final Four set after blowouts and another surprise

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino celebrates with Chane Behanan, left, and guard Russ Smith (2) after their 85-63 win over Duke in the Midwest Regional final in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino celebrates with Chane Behanan, left, and guard Russ Smith (2) after their 85-63 win over Duke in the Midwest Regional final in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2013, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Louisville head coach Rick Pitino and trainers tend to injured guard Kevin Ware during the first half of the Midwest Regional final in the NCAA college basketball tournament against Duke, Sunday, March 31, 2013, in Indianapolis. Ware badly injured his lower right leg and had to be taken off the court on a stretcher. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

Michigan celebrates after a regional final game against Florida in the NCAA college basketball tournament, Sunday, March 31, 2013, in Arlington, Texas. Michigan won 79-59 to advance to the Final Four. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)

Syracuse players and coaches celebrate for photographers after their 55-39 win over Marquette in the East Regional final in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Washington. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

Wichita State's Carl Hall celebrates after his team defeated Ohio State 70-66 in the West Regional final in the NCAA men's college basketball tournament, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

ATLANTA (AP) ? After a season of uncertainty, there's a clear favorite heading to the Final Four.

The Louisville Cardinals.

While the other No. 1s have fallen by the wayside, the top overall seed romped to the Georgia Dome with four dominant wins in the NCAA tournament. And, if the Cardinals need any extra motivation, they've got it.

Sophomore guard Kevin Ware, who played his high school ball in the Atlanta suburbs, sustained a gruesome injury in Sunday's regional final against Duke. Before he headed off to surgery, he courageously urged his teammates to finish the job.

Now, they would like nothing more than to win it all for Ware.

"We talked about it every timeout, 'Get Kevin home,'" coach Rick Pitino said.

Next stop, the A-T-L, where three rather unlikely teams will be looking to knock off the mighty Cardinals.

First up, the surprising Shockers from Wichita State in the semifinals Saturday. The No. 9 seed has already pulled off two major upsets, but this would be the biggest stunner yet.

If Louisville makes it through to next Monday night's title game, the opponent would be either Michigan, sporting a new group of Fab Wolverines, or Syracuse, which comes at you with the stingiest zone defense in college basketball. The two No. 4 seeds will meet in the other semifinal game.

All are underdogs to the Cardinals, who are winning by an average of nearly 22 points a game in the tournament.

"I thought we had a chance there, and then boom," said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski, who watched Louisville pull away for an 85-63 victory in the Midwest Regional final. "That's what they do to teams. They can boom you."

In the other game Sunday, Michigan captured the South Regional with a 79-59 rout of Florida, leading from the opening tip. A day earlier, Syracuse shut down Marquette 55-39 to win the East Regional, while Wichita State punched its Final Four ticket with a 70-66 upset of Ohio State out West.

In the final year of the Big East before it splits into two new conferences, Louisville and Syracuse provided a fitting send-off to a league that quickly became a basketball powerhouse after it was founded in 1979.

Before it goes, this version of the Big East has a shot at one more national title.

With two teams, no less.

The Cardinals ? who, like Syracuse, are moving to the Atlantic Coast Conference ? shook off the incredible shock of Ware's injury with about 6? minutes to go before halftime and blew out the second-seeded Blue Devils. The sophomore snapped his lower right leg after coming down awkwardly while defending a 3-point shot. The injury occurred right in front of the Louisville bench, where the players gasped and turned away quickly at the sight of Ware's dangling leg, which was broken in two places.

Russ Smith collapsed onto the floor, along with several players, and was crying as doctors attended to Ware. While Ware was loaded onto a stretcher, the Cardinals gathered at midcourt until Pitino called them over, saying the injured player wanted to talk to them before he left.

"All he kept saying ? and remember, the bone is 6 inches out of his leg ? all he's yelling is, 'Win the game! Win the game!'" Pitino said. "I've never seen that in my life. We're all distraught and all he's saying is, 'Win the game.' Kevin is a special young man."

This is a special team. Smith scored 23 points. Gorgui Dieng had 14 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks.

The Cardinals (33-5) simply refused to lose, breaking open a game that was tied at 42. They dove on the floor for loose balls. They pounded the boards ferociously. They contested every shot and swarmed around the Blue Devils like they had an extra player on the court.

In a sense, they did, as Pitino reminded them during every timeout.

"This is a gritty bunch," the coach said. "From the beginning of the year to now, they've not had a bad game. I'm really proud of these guys."

Wichita State was the most improbable team to advance. The Shockers lived up to their nickname in the West, knocking off top-seeded Gonzaga in the second round and No. 2 seed Ohio State in the regional final Saturday night.

Wichita State (30-8) built a 20-point lead on the Buckeyes, then managed to hang on through a nerve-racking final five minutes to pull off the latest upset in a tournament filled with them.

That other team from Kansas isn't content yet.

"It feels very good," said Cleanthony Early, a junior forward who, like most of his teammates, was passed over by higher-profile programs, "but we understand the fact that we've got to stay hungry and humble, because we've got two more games left to really be excited about."

Old-timers might remember Louisville and Wichita State as former conference rivals. The Cardinals were a member of the Missouri Valley Conference in the 1960s and '70s, which meant annual games against the Shockers.

Louisville holds a 19-5 edge in the series, but the teams haven't played since 1976.

Michigan (30-7) is headed back to the Final Four for the first time since the Fab Five era of the early 1990s, when the Wolverines lost in back-to-back national title games.

This team has the same youthful feel, led by sophomore Trey Burke, the Big Ten player of the year, and three freshmen starters. They were downright fabulous against third-seeded Florida, never seriously threatened after scoring the first 13 points.

"A lot of guys said we were really young and that we couldn't get here," said Burke, who scored 15 points against Florida but really came through in an improbable comeback against top-seeded Kansas in the regional semifinals. "We're here now and we still have unfinished business."

One of the freshmen, Nik Stauskas, hit all six of his 3-pointers and scored 22 points to lead the Wolverines. Another of the youngsters, 6-foot-10 Mitch McGary, chipped in with 11 points and nine rebounds.

Florida became the first team to lose three straight regional finals.

The Wolverines will have their work cut out against Syracuse (30-9), a team that has totally stuffed its NCAA opponents with a stifling zone defense. The Orange are headed to their first Final Four since winning it all in 2003 largely because they have allowed fewer than 46 points a game in the tournament.

Syracuse leads the series against Michigan 8-5. Their last meeting was Nov. 26, 2010, when the Orange prevailed 53-50 in the Legends Classic at Atlantic City, N.J.

The schools have never met in the NCAA tournament.

Syracuse has been like an octopus when it settles in around the its own lane ? shutting off passing routes, preventing anyone from penetrating, yet still managing to defend the 3-point line with quickness and long arms. Montana, California, top-seeded Indiana and Marquette combined to make just under 29 percent from the field (61 of 211) and a paltry 15.4 percent (14 of 91) outside the arc.

"We were as active these two games here in Washington as we've ever been," Syracuse coach Jim Boeheim said after Saturday's win over league rival Marquette, which is headed to a new version of the Big East next season. "I just really can't say enough about how good these guys played on the defensive end of the court."

___

Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/347875155d53465d95cec892aeb06419/Article_2013-04-01-BKC-Final-Four/id-81e038df08934fd69d7fd72a6e822301

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Why Do We Hate Certain Words?

The George Saunders story ?Escape From Spiderhead,? included in his much praised new book Tenth of December, is not for the squeamish or the faint of heart. The sprawling, futuristic tale delves into several potentially unnerving topics: suicide, sex, psychotropic drugs. It includes graphic scenes of self-mutilation. It employs the phrases ?butt-squirm,? ?placental blood,? and ?thrusting penis.? At one point, Saunders relates a conversation between two characters about the application of medicinal cream to raw, chafed genitals.

Early in the story, there is a brief passage in which the narrator, describing a moment of postcoital amorousness, says, ?Everything seemed moist, permeable, sayable.? This sentence doesn?t really stand out from the rest?in fact, it?s one of the less conspicuous sentences in the story. But during a recent reading of ?Escape From Spiderhead? in Austin, Texas, Saunders says he encountered something unexpected. ?I?d texted a cousin of mine who was coming with her kids (one of whom is in high school) just to let her know there was some rough language,? he recalls. ?Afterwards she said she didn?t mind fu*k, but hated?wait for it?moist. Said it made her a little physically ill. Then I went on to Jackson, read there, and my sister Jane was in the audience?and had the same reaction. To moist.?

Mr. Saunders, say hello to word aversion.

It?s about to get really moist in here. But first, some background is in order. The phenomenon of word aversion?seemingly pedestrian, inoffensive words driving some people up the wall?has garnered increasing attention over the past decade or so. In a recent post on Language Log, University of Pennsylvania linguistics professor Mark Liberman defined the concept as ?a feeling of intense, irrational distaste for the sound or sight of a particular word or phrase, not because its use is regarded as etymologically or logically or grammatically wrong, nor because it?s felt to be over-used or redundant or trendy or non-standard, but simply because the word itself somehow feels unpleasant or even disgusting.?

So we?re not talking about hating how some people say laxadaisical instead of lackadaisical or wanting to vigorously shake teenagers who can?t avoid using the word like between every other word of a sentence. If you can?t stand the word tax because you dislike paying taxes, that?s something else, too. (When recently asked about whether he harbored any word aversions, Harvard University cognition and education professor Howard Gardner offered up webinar, noting that these events take too much time to set up, often lack the requisite organization, and usually result in ?a singularly unpleasant experience.? All true, of course, but that sort of antipathy is not what word aversion is all about.)

Word aversion is marked by strong reactions triggered by the sound, sight, and sometimes even the thought of certain words, according to Liberman. ?Not to the things that they refer to, but to the word itself,? he adds. ?The feelings involved seem to be something like disgust.? ?

Participants on various message boards and online forums have noted serious aversions to, for instance, squab, cornucopia, panties, navel, brainchild, crud, slacks, crevice, and fudge, among numerous others. Ointment, one Language Log reader noted in 2007, ?has the same mouth-feel as moist, yet it?s somehow worse.? In response to a 2009 post on the subject by Ben Zimmer, one commenter confided: ?The word meal makes me wince. Doubly so when paired with hot.? (Nineteen comments later, someone agreed, declaring: ?Meal is a repulsive word.?) In many cases, real-life word aversions seem no less bizarre than when the words mattress and tin induce freak-outs on Monty Python?s Flying Circus. (The Monty Python crew knew a thing or two about annoying sounds.)

Jason Riggle, a professor in the department of linguistics at the University of Chicago, says word aversions are similar to phobias. ?If there is a single central hallmark to this, it?s probably that it?s a more visceral response,? he says. ?The [words] evoke nausea and disgust rather than, say, annoyance or moral outrage. And the disgust response is triggered because the word evokes a highly specific and somewhat unusual association with imagery or a scenario that people would typically find disgusting?but don?t typically associate with the word.? These aversions, Riggle adds, don?t seem to be elicited solely by specific letter combinations or word characteristics. ?If we collected enough of [these words], it might be the case that the words that fall in this category have some properties in common,? he says. ?But it?s not the case that words with those properties in common always fall in the category.? ???

So back to moist. If pop cultural references, Internet blog posts, and social media are any indication, moist reigns supreme in its capacity to disgust a great many of us. Aversion to the word has popped up on How I Met Your Mother and Dead Like Me. VH1 declared that using the word moist is enough to make a man ?undateable.? In December, Huffington Post?s food section published a piece suggesting five alternatives to the word moist so the site could avoid its usage when writing about various cakes. Readers of The New Yorker flocked to Facebook and Twitter to choose moist as the one word they would most like to be eliminated from the English language. In a survey of 75 Mississippi State University students from 2009, moist placed second only to vomit as the ugliest word in the English language. In a 2011 follow-up survey of 125 students, moist pulled into the ugly-word lead?vanquishing a greatest hits of gross that included phlegm, ooze, mucus, puke, scab, and pus. Meanwhile, there are 7,903 people on Facebook who like the ?interest? known as ?I Hate the Word Moist.? (More than 5,000 other Facebook users give the thumbs up to three different moist-hatred Facebook pages.)

Being grossed out by the word moist is not beyond comprehension. It?s squishy-seeming, and, to some, specifically evocative of genital regions and undergarments. These qualities are not unusual when it comes to word aversion. Many hated words refer to ?slimy things, or gross things, or names for garments worn in potentially sexual areas, or anything to do with food, or suckling, or sexual overtones,? says Riggle. But other averted words are more confounding, notes Liberman. ?There is a list of words that seem to have sexual connotations that are among the words that elicit this kind of reaction?moist being an obvious one,? he says. ?But there are other words like luggage, and pugilist, and hardscrabble, and goose pimple, and squab, and so on, which I guess you could imagine phonic associations between those words and something sexual, but it certainly doesn?t seem obvious.?

So then the question becomes: What is it about certain words that makes certain people want to hurl?

Source: http://feeds.slate.com/click.phdo?i=dc61baaf902fc9393b9c41b64507a693

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