Paranormal words break Top 10 for year's most used

Break out the champagne and noisemakers because congratulations are in order! The paranormal apparently had a big year in language because "vampire" and "Mayan Calendar" made the Top 10 Words of 2009, according to The Global Language Monitor.

The Texas-based organization tracks Internet word usage reports the blood-suckers are fourth on the list of words (right behind "Twitter," "Obama," "H1N1" and "Stimulus") with the doomsday calendar being the ninth most popular phrase.

The Language Monitor acquires the data using "a proprietary algorithm that tracks words and phrases in the media and on the Internet, now including blogs and social media ... in relation to frequency, contextual usage and appearance in global media outlets, factoring in long-term trends, short-term changes, momentum and velocity."

Sure, it's not even the bronze, but two entries for paranormal pop culture (three if you count "Michael Jackson" as the second most popular name on the list) ain't too shabby.

And remember vampires, you're in biting distance of first for next year.