In a few years, this category will serve as a little time capsule. Remember Miley Cyrus? you’ll say, and smile wistfully. Remember the surge? Remember snow?

Phrase to be banned

1. Three-way TIE: "Green" / "At the end of the day..." / "Stay-cation"
2. "It is what it is."

Poll respondents had no trouble coming up with current slang they’d be happy never to hear again, including those perennial irritants "dude," "like" and "whatever." More to the point, though, the concern over global warming has created a backlash against "green" this, that and the other thing. The idea of a "stay-cation" is an abomination. And "At the end of the day," you don’t want to hear about it. Just sayin.’

Madison’s most embarassing moment

1. 911 blunder in Brittany Zimmermann murder
2. Three unsolved stranger murders
3. Poor snow removal

The mishandling of the 911 call from Brittany Zimmermann’s cell phone before she was murdered was, without a doubt, Madison’s worst moment over the course of the last year. The very fact that there were three high-profile unsolved stranger murders at the time we conducted the poll was also a travesty to many. What some perceived as an inadequate response to having over 100 inches of snow dumped on the city still had a strong showing at third.

Local public hero

1. Felicia Melton-Smith
2. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz
3. Russ Feingold

Felicia Melton-Smith was a local AIDS and gay rights activist who was murdered during a trip to Mexico, and it’s clear she won’t soon be forgotten. Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz managed to dig himself out of the snow bank to shine at second here. He barely edged out everybody’s favorite junior senator from Wisconsin.

Local public enemy

1. Kathleen Falk
2. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz
3. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce

Dane County Executive Kathleen Falk might not have appeared at the top of this category without the 911 blunder on the day of Brittany Zimmermann’s murder. Her defense of the 911 Call Center was not very well received. Ironically, Mayor Dave comes in second as an enemy as well as a hero — always a bridesmaid. Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce, the group whose dour, heavyhanded tactics and conservative agenda have alienated many, are at third.