Job Discussion Forums

[Capergirl]

Like every year, 2003 brought its own set of additions to the lexicon. Here are some of the terms we (North Americans) found rolling off our tongues in the past 12 months:

Bennifer: The combination of Ben Affleck and Jennifer Lopez, who teased stargazers all year with their "When will they do it?" and then "Will they or won't they do it?" wedding (they never did it). Fans almost mercilessly turned against Bennifer when their first movie together, "Gigli," bombed at the box office.

Metrosexual: An urbane, sophisticated, heterosexual man who is concerned with his skin, hair, clothes and other less-than-macho pursuits. This is a straight guy with a *beep* eye.

The Governator: Combines the previous job of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger -- star of "The Terminator" and other action movies -- with his current job as governor of California.

"TiVo It": Refers to recording a television show onto the hard drive of a TiVo or competing brand of digital video recorder, which is like a VCR with a hard drive.

Punk'd: To be fooled, and named after the title of actor Ashton Kutcher's popular MTV celebrity prank show. The word officially entered the slang dictionary when the famously private David Letterman, pressed for details about his girlfriend, said to Kutcher's girlfriend Demi Moore, "I feel like I've been Punk'd."

Friendster: Like an online dating site ... but for friends. The site allows people to form networks with their friends, their friends' friends and so on, and is largely used as a hook-up vehicle for single, urban 20-somethings. Several celebrities have confessed to being Friendster addicts, and the site was so popular this year that it was often impossible to sign on.

Go Bags: Also called ready kits, Go Bags contain emergency supplies such as water, non-perishable food, flashlights, AM/FM radios and first-aid kits. Meant for preparedness in a natural or manmade disaster, the government pushed the kits in a national ad campaign this year.

SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, or the viral respiratory illness first reported in Asia in February that spread to North America, South America, Europe and Asia and caused many Americans to fear flying and Chinese food. Eight cases were confirmed in the U.S. as of Oct. 1, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Push Presents: Also called baby baubles, they are gifts from husband to wife upon the birth of a baby -- usually expensive jewelry.

Words of War

Embedded reporters: Journalists cleared and trained by the U.S. military to accompany troops on or near the front lines during Operation: Iraqi Freedom.

Shock and Awe: The name of the targeted strike meant to kill Saddam Hussein that kicked off the Iraq war, it refers to an overwhelming use of military force that is meant to "shock and awe" an enemy into surrender.

War blog: Web diaries kept by soldiers, reporters and civilians describing the build-up, events and aftermath of the Iraq war.

Most-Wanted Cards: A set of 55 playing cards issued by the U.S. Army to soldiers during and after the Iraq invasion. Each card displayed a high-ranking member of Saddam Hussein�s regime, with Saddam himself as the ace of spades. Modeled on a similar deck used in Europe during World War II, the deck was quickly knocked off for sale on street corners and the Internet

[nomadder]

How about humvee?

Good to see you back Capes. Happy 2004!

[ntropy]

Bling-bling.

Which I hope to God dies out by the next new year.

[basiltherat]

""and bring him/them to justice"" - in a broad texan-like drawl -GWB""S (and TB""s) favorite words.

I pray that I will never here these words again in 2004; but I'm not holding m breath
regards
basil

[Gordon]

Capergirl,
It took about 7 or 8 of your new words before I recognized one of them. I must be out of it!
I like Push Presents. My wife reminds me all the time. You're not the one who pushed out the 8 lb watermelon.

[arioch36]

never heard of Push Presents. Thought maybe it was the name of a new band. Is this a canadian thing only, or have I been gone too long?

Did you have a good boxing day?

[Wolf]

I no longer understand the culture of my birth.

Scot47, is there a support group for this sort of thing?

[Deborann]

You left out spider hole - previously called a fox hole when the good guys were in it.

[johnslat]

Dear Wolf,

"I no longer understand the culture of my birth. "

Don't feel too bad; I never have understood mine - or any others, for that matter.
Regards,
John

[guest of Japan]

Deborann,

A fox hole is a hastily dug hole for protective purposes in head to head combat.

A spiderhole, coined during WWII, is a much more luxurious hole built with the intention of hiding from the enemy while killing as many as possible. It was used by the Japanese.

[once again]

How about two I have invented we can use here..

AGGRONAUGHT......a person who goes in to cyberspace with the intention of causing trouble.

JENNIFICATION....the turning of a wonderfuly historic cultural city in to a faux western rich paradise.

[johnslat]

Dear guest of Japan,
If I may elaborate:

The foxhole is as you wrote, except that it's purpose is usually to protect the individual(s) from artillery fire/aircraft bombing - although it also provides cover from individual small arms fire.

The spider hole is usually not very "luxurious", but unlike the fox hole, has a "cover". Its purpose is mainly camouflage; it permits the individual inside to remain hidden while enemy troops pass by and then allows him/her to "pop up" and ambush them from the rear. It takes its name from the "trap-door spider".

http://www.everythingabout.net/articles/biology/animals/arthropods/arachnids/spiders/trap-door_spider/

So, the foxhole is mainly a defense device, whereas the spider hole's purpose in mainly offensive (and "sneaky").
Regards,
John

[guest of Japan]

Thanks Johnslat. That's what I meant to say. You said much better than I could.

[scot47]

Wolf

I know of no support group for this condition. I might suggest that you do what most of us have been doing for a while. Live in your own little world. Belive me it is more comfortable.

Or you could wait for "the Peace that passeth all understanding".

Once you get to my age it seems alarmingly close.

[Ria]

scot47,
It seems from Wolf's previous posts that he may have a very long wait for "the peace that passeth all understanding", but I do agree with the philosophy of living in your own little world. As the t-shirt says, "they know me there".