Farmer Mac (Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation)
Farmer Mac signifies the Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation. The Federal Agricultural Mortgage Corporation was chartered by the U.S. federal government in 1988, but the name "Farmer…
Sallie Mae (Student Loan Marketing Association)
Sallie Mae signifies the Student Loan Marketing Association (SLM Corporation). The Student Loan Marketing Association was created in 1972, but "Sally Mae" has been cited in print since at…
Ginnie Mae (Government National Mortgage Association)
Ginnie Mae signifies the Government National Mortgage Association (GNMA). The GNMA was established in 1968 and "Ginnie Mae" has been cited in print since at least February 1968. Ginnie…
Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage Association)
Fannie Mae signifies the Federal National Mortgage Association (FNMA). The FNMA was established in 1938 and "Fanny May" has been cited in print since at least May 1938. "Fannie…
Freddie Mac (Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation)
Freddie Mac signifies the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (FHLMC). The FHLMC was formed in 1970 and "Freddie Mac" has been cited in print since at least January 1971. In 1997,…
Yourgage (your + mortgage)
"Yourgage" or "YOURgage" (your + mortage) is not a slang term, but a registered service mark (since May 2011) of Quicken Loans. Rather than a 15-year or a 30-year mortgage, a…
Teavangelist (tea party supporter + evangelist)
A "teavangelist" (tea party supporter + evangelist) is a Christian minister who supports the tea party's political agenda. "Teavangelist" has been cited in print since at…
Kiss & Fly
John F. Kennedy International Airport has a "Kiss & Fly" area located at the Lefferts Boulevard Station. Travelers can avoid airport traffic by driving to the "Kiss &…
Bankocracy
Entry in progress -- B.P. Workers.orgFinancial ruin at Drysdale and Penn SquareJuly 20, 1982(...)Almost all the big banks of the Northeast, which is the citadel of the U.S. and world bankocracy,…
Banktocracy
Entry in progress -- B.P. Vidiot Speak Tuesday, May 01, 2007Sticking it to the Washington Consensus (...)For those of you who have been reading this blog for a while, you know that I believe that…
“When you’re getting kicked in the rear, it means you’re in front”
"When you're getting kicked in the rear, it means you're in front" is often credited to Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979), but there is insufficient documentation to confirm this. The…
Flightilla (flight + flotilla)
The word "flightilla" (fly + flotilla) -- also spelled "flytilla" -- was popularized on July 6, 2011, following the failure of the "Freedom Flotilla II" to sail past…
Ronaldus Magnus or Ronaldus Maximus (Ronald Reagan’s presidential years)
Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) was the 40th President of the United States (1981-1989). Many conservatives look back on Reagan's presidency as a halcyon time for conservatism. Conservative radio…
Dead Parrot Economy
The British comedy troupe Monty Python's Flying Circus performed its now-famous "Dead Parrot Sketch" in 1969 and many times after that. A customer enters a pet shop to get a refund…
Carmageddon (car + Armageddon); Carpocalypse (car + apocalypse)
"Carmageddon" (car + Armageddon) is the title of a computer game, trademarked since 1997; "Carpocalyse Now"(car + apocalypse) is the title of a computer game, trademarked since…
Agflation (agriculture + inflation)
"Agflation" (agriculture + inflation) means agricultural commodity price inflation. The Wall Street Journal, on April 30, 2007, credited the term to the financial firm of Merryl Lynch,…
Depression Sandwich (hot dog)
Fluky's of Chicago -- frequently credited for originating the Chicago hot dog -- is often said to have served a "Depression Sandwich" (hot dog) for a nickel during the 1930s.…
Flytilla (fly + flotilla)
The word "flytilla" (fly + flotilla) -- also spelled "flightilla" -- was popularized on July 3, 2011, following the failure of the "Freedom Flotilla II" to sail past…
“New York’s Hometown Airline” (JetBlue)
JetBlue is a low-cost airline headquartered in Forest Hills, Queens, with a main base at John F. Kennedy International Airport (also in Queens). JetBlue has called itself "New York's…
Beartard (bear + retard)
A “beartard” (bear + retard) is a “bear” (one who believes in falling markets), but is also one who remains bearish despite bullish numbers. The term “beartard” has been cited in print…