Then there is the word sequester -- a technical mouthful that doesn't quite convey the same drama and sizzle as "fiscal cliff, " Zelizer said.

CNN: Suffering from sequester burnout? You're not alone

While technical in nature -- using the word "hydrocarbon" to refer to oil, for example -- the letter depicts a process that failed to detect a potential cause of the disaster.

CNN: STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Wilcox is said to have uttered an unspecified magic word while getting called for a technical foul in a Dec. 16 game.

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