Let's face it. It was unlikely that last night's 2011 Academy Awards show had any chance at being exciting. All major award categories had clear favorites to win, and as it turned out, except for the directing category, all the favorites won. For the Oscars to be a hit this year, it was going to have to rely on entertainment and great speeches.

Euphemisms are actually just synonyms – or at least a type of synonym.  We use and invent them to lower the temperature of “hot button” words or subjects.  We use this device to neutralize words that make us feel uncomfortable.  Our culture does the same thing generally and hence, “political correctness.”  Keyes says, “Euphemisms are an accurate barometer of changing attitudes,” and that is the theme of his book.
Just as some felt that religion was a tool of the state and aristocracy to control the masses, now many feel that language has become an instrument of commercial, political and postmodern doublespeak.  Reminds me of 1984.  California researchers, Bandler and Grinder made a case for our individual choices of words being an insight to our psyche.  According to them, our subconscious choice of predicates was significant.  If that’s correct, what does it say about our conscious use of euphemisms?
Euphemania: Our Love Affair with Euphemisms is not a reference book, although it does have a complete bibliography and a thorough index.  Unlike a dictionary or thesaurus, it isn’t intended as a quick look up type book.  Rather it is filled with stories and commentaries on both historical and contemporary euphemisms.