Its not dead, it has just changed, as it does. Quirky is cool, therefore Cool is alive.

'quirky' is the most disgusting word in the English language. Well, that and 'discharge'.

Puss.

Moist.

On the subject of special words .... A prominent Irish comedian was in Sydney performing and in his show, he told the audience that he had a foolproof way of finding out if there were any Irish people in attendance,... he paused,... he took a breath,... after a slight exhalation he simply uttered the word,... Gee - to which all Irish people in attendance fell to the floor laughing.

cool article

cool. but what is cool? *strokes beard* anyway, whatever you definition of it, it hasn't gone away. things that people like will be "cool" for them until a) everyone else likes the thing or b)the person goes off the thing. in music, there was always the <discovery> period of a band (where you feel they're yours, and can recommend them to others... possibly with an element of smugness). then theres the <realization> period... where lots of people are discovering them, and the band are briefly lots of peoples favourites, leading to rushes in sales, hype, internet buzzes etc. some bands never leave this stage either through lack of ambition, bad luck, lack of talent, they just like that level, or even all four. these bands will bounce between each stages before they fade out... other bands will enter the MAINSTREAM - when they change to having lots people that LOVE them to lots of people who Like them. nowadays - these bands can go through the stages very rapidly, meaning the "mainstream" net widens massively, and bands without releases or even gigs can be touted very very early in their career... sometimes stunting their development, or making them part of a fad that has passed. Cool never goes away, but the definitions change every time you think you have a handle on them.