Conundrums

I came across two baffling usages of words in the last few days. They comprise of (or should I say 'comprise'?) comprise, biweekly and bimonthly.

Now, to be frank, I have grown up using 'comprise' in the sense of 'made of'. Apparantly, that's incorrect! According to my reliable online resource http://www.dictionary.com/, which is again based upon Random House Dictionary, 'comprise' has had an interesting history of development.
To quote: "In addition to its original senses, dating from the 15th century, 'to include' and 'to consist of' (The United States of America comprises 50 states), 'Comprise' has had since the late 18th century the meaning 'to form or constitute' (Fifty states comprise the United States of America") Since the late 19th century it has also been used in passive constructions with a sense synonymous with that of one of its original meanings 'to consist of' or 'be composed of': (The United States of America is comprised of 50 states). These later usages are often criticized but they occur with increasing frequency even in formal speech and writing."

The dictionary further states that the traditional rule is that 'The whole comprises the parts and the parts compose/constitute/make-up the whole'. For instance, 'The Union comprises 50 states, whereas fifty states compose/constitute/make-up the Union'.
Apparantly, there are writers who still maintain this distinction. But 'comprise' is increasingly being used in the place of 'compose', especially in the passive voice: 'The Union is comprised of 50 states'. This is what even I have been using since a long time!

However, singling me out for blame wouldn't be right, because apparantly this usage has been increasing. In the 1960s, 63 per cent of the Dictionary's Usage Panel found this usage unacceptable. But in 1996, only 35 per cent objected.
So that's about the first conundrum. Should I bow down to the Queen's English or should I continue following vox populi?

The second conundrum is about the meaning of bi-weekly and bi-monthly?
You tell me: Does is mean twice a week/month or once every two weeks/months?
Got you! Didn't I? Well, apparantly, both the meanings are in practice!
Check out the following links, the authorities in the English language:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bi-weekly
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/bi-monthly
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bi-weekly
http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bi-monthly

I do understand that I can squeeze my way past the confusion created by 'bi-weekly' by replacing it with 'fortnightly' whenever required. But what do I do about 'bi-monthly'?
Aah! English language is both fascinating and silly, and perhaps for these very same reaosn it is so popular... eh! What say?