Kakistocracy

kak-ist-oc-rac-y (kækɪˈstɒkrəsɪ)

noun

1. government by the worst people.

The American poet James Russell Lowell wrote in a letter in 1876: "Is ours a government of the people, by the people, for the people, or a kakistocracy rather, for the benefit of knaves at the cost of fools?"* (Source.)

Synonyms: democracy, government.

*Though this may seem like a veiled attempt to express my opinion on the outcome of the last presidential election, it is nothing of the sort. My view of this term is rather neutral, as the idea of who the worst people are is a subjective one. In 1876, the worst people were crazy, minorities, and women, later sexual "deviants" were included in the mix. Real change in a society usually doesn't happen by following the standard and tested models. Consequently, if you find yourself living in a society that needs a little change, it might be time for a kakistocracy.  

Katzenjammer

kat-zen-jam-mer (ktsn-jmr)

noun
1. A loud and discordant noise, sometimes from many sources.
I expected a katzenjammer from my sister after the last blog entry.

Synonyms:disorder, disruption, disruption, explosion, fracas, fray, fuss, hullabaloo, interruption, quarrel, racket, rampage, riot, rumble, ruckus, uproar.

2. The disagreeable after effects of drugs (especially alcohol).
I guess she couldn't say much with ktazenjammer she was in after the events of last night.*

Synonyms: hangover.

* To be fair, I don't know WHAT my sister was doing last night, but I think the kitty knows.

Kapow

ka-pow (kăpou)

interjection
1. The sound of a strong force, like a punch or a transformation.*
Kapow! Obama just punched bin Laden right in the face!

Synonyms: bam, bang, bap, biff, bloop, blurp, boff, bonk, clank, clunk, cr-r-a-a-ck, crash, crraack, crunch, flrbbbbb, glip, glurp, kayo, klonk, krunch, ooooff, ouch, owww, pam, plop, pow, powie, qunckkk, rakkk, rip, slosh, splat, sploosh, swa-a-p, swoosh, thunk, thwack, thwapp, uggh, urkk, urkkk, vronk, whack, whamm, whap, z-zwap, zam, zamm, zap, zgruppp, zlonk, zlopp, zlott, zok, zowie, zwapp, zzzzzwap!

* See onomatopoeia.

Kitschy

kitcsh-y (kch)

adjective
1. Characterized by vulgar sentimentality or false pretentiousness in decorating and/or the arts.
The collection of brass jello molds had to go; our place is kitcshy enough as it is!

Synonyms: bawdry, caravansary, chintzy, corny, curbside, easy-all-American, gaudy, meretricious, tacky, tawdry, ticky-tack.