The buzzword of the year, according to Time magazine, is cougar. No, not the powerful cat that lives throughout the Western Hemisphere and dines largely on large mammals. The new definition of cougar, says Time, is: “older woman who romantically pursues younger men; offensive to some, the term is considered by others a positive acknowledgment of these women’s sex appeal.” If this were a spelling bee and you wanted us to use it in a sentence, we’d say, “The hot older women on ABC’s reality dating show Age of Love were called cougars.” And then we’d add, please don’t call us sexist for using the adjective “hot.”

Now cougars are excellent predators in the wild. But really, is this the best term to describe foxy older women on the prowl for young himbos? We think not – and here’s why:

1.    Real cougars live only 8 to 10 years in the wild (though 20 years or more in captivity). Yet human cougars are said to be in their late 30s or 40s. Discuss amongst yourselves.
2.    Cougars like to be alone except when mating. So, no cougars at crowded singles bars.
3.    Cougars know how to swim but don’t like to get wet. At a pool party, then, cougars would be at a clear disadvantage.
4.    Cougars catch their prey by stalking, then jumping on the back of the intended victim, holding the animal down with their claws, and sinking their teeth into its neck. This is rarely an effective way to land a date.

Pop Omnivore’s choice of buzzword of the year, in case you were wondering:  canary. Because just about every story we’re read (or written) about a suffering animal uses the term “canary in a coal mine.”  Whether they’re suffering because of climate change, habitat loss, pollution, or depression because the TV writers' strike will mean no new episodes of Desperate Housepets, they’re all just like lil’ yellow tweety birds facing extinction in the Giant Coal Mine that is Planet Earth these days. And a word of warning to all of Earth’s canaries: Watch out for cougars!

But really, what do we know? Pop Omnivore readers – what’s your pick for the best buzzword of 2007?

-Marc Silver

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