epicenter -EHP-ih-SEN-ter - the point above the direct center of an earthquake, figuratively used to indicate the focal point of a troubling situation

Example: "As of today, the USA has been declared the global epicenter of the swine flu pandemic, with schools closing rapidly across the country in an attempt to isolate the virus."

iconoclast - eye-KON-oh-KLAST - originally, a destroyer of images used in religious worship, now generally a person who attacks cherished beliefs or institutions

Example: "Ayn Rand, author of 'Atlas Shrugged' & 'The Fountainhead,' was considered the iconoclast of the mid-1900s by favoring self interest over attention given to others."

iconic - eye-KON-ik - (Note: originally, an icon was a holy picture, usually made of or painted on wood, to be revered religiously. Of late, the adjective "iconic" has grown to buzz word status, now grossly misused to elevate anything to a status desecratingly equal to its original holy connotation.)

Example: "In the latest blow to the GPS business, the iconic Google announced a free navigation service for mobile phones that will offer turn-by-turn directions, live traffic updates and the ability to recognize voice commands. The service will initially be available on only one phone, the new Motorola Droid, but will be expanded to more phones soon."

stolid - STAHL-id - calm, showing little action or emotion

Example: "An assured prediction is that crowds at the opening of the World Series on Wednesday will be anything but stolid."

capricious - cap-REE-shus - whimsical, unpredictable, fickle, flighty, "any way the wind blows"

Example: "The law requiring air bags in certain parts of commercial airlines has been scoffed at by some legislators as a capricious act."

contentious - kon-TEN-shus - causing or likely to cause an argument, controversial

Example: "On NPR today, a Mexican who just lost his American job, feels it would be contentious to return to Mexico, all things considered."

flummox - FLUM-OKS -bewilder greatly, perplex

Example: "Shopping for oatmeal, a Swedish housewife admitted that she was flummoxed by the label on a box of oatmeal reading, 'Climate declared: .87 kg CO2 per kg of product;' turns out it's a new national way, on all packaged foods, to remind eaters how much CO2 is released in the creating of the food."