Medicrat (medical + bureaucrat)
"Medicrat" (medical + bureaucrat) is a term that has been used frequently since the passage of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (2010), commonly known as…
Archive for 05/2014
Love-locking (Love Lock or Love Padlock)
"Love-locking" is when someone puts a lock (called a "love lock" or "love padlock") on a pole -- such as a pole on a bridge or in a train station -- and throws away…
Access To Money (“ATM” backronym)
"ATM" is an acronym from "automated teller machine" or "automatic teller machine." However, many people believe that "ATM" stands for "access to…
Roads, Rates and Rubbish (local government concerns)
"Roads, rates and rubbish" (also "rates, roads and rubbish") are commonly said to be the three top concerns of local government. The saying is mostly restricted to Australia and…
Shopportunity (shop + opportunity)
"Shopportunity” (shop + opportunity) is a term that has been used in many retail store advertisements. "Shopportunity" has been cited in print since at least 1939 and…
Shoppertunity (shopper + opportunity)
"Shoppertunity" (shopper + opportunity) is a term that has been used in many retail store advertisements. "Shopper-tunities" has been cited in print since at least 1939 and…
Webutante Ball (Prom for Tech Nerds)
The Webutante Ball (World Wide Web + debutante) is an annual event that has been held in New York City since 2009. Richard Blakeley, then Editor-in-Chief of Gawker.TV, scheduled the social event…
Pipelineistan (pipeline + -istan)
Entry in progress -- B.P."Pipelineistan” (pipeline + -istan, such as Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan) Pepe Escobar Wikipedia: -stanThe…
The Nation’s Newspaper (USA Today nickname)
USA Today is a national newspaper that was founded by Al Neuharth (1924-2013) of the Gannett Company on September 15, 1982. "USA Today will reach out to become the nation's…
“There are two ways to run for office—scared or unopposed” (political adage)
Politicians usually take all opponents seriously -- or, at least, they usually say that they do, even if an election is sure to be a lopsided victory. "There are two ways to run for office --…
“Whiskey is by far the most popular of all remedies that won’t cure a cold”
"Whiskey is by far the most popular of all remedies that won't cure a cold" is a jocular line that has been credited to American singer and actor Jerry Vale (1930-2014) since 1972,…
“Never trust a warm front” (weather adage)
"Never trust a warm front" is a catchphrase of Dick Goddard, a long-time meteorologist at WJW-TV (Cleveland, OH). Warm fronts are unpredictable with the amount of precipitation they can…
“As goes Walmart, so goes America”
Walmart was founded in Arkansas by Sam Walton in 1962 and grew to become the world's largest chain of discount retail department stores. Many business writers believe that the American economy…
“When you get a new customer, make three trades” (Wall Street adage)
Louisiana-born investment advisor Blaine Lourd gave a 2007 interview to Michael Lewis, and Lourd discussed the gullibility of investors: "When you got a new customer, all you needed to do was…
“Delay is the deadliest form of denial”
"Delay is the deadliest form of denial" was published by C. Northcote Parkinson (1909-1993) in The Times (London) in 1966, with the title of "Parkinson's Law of Delay." An…
“What you appreciate appreciates”
"What you appreciate appreciates" is a chapter in Lynne Twist's book, The Soul of Money: Transforming Your Relationship with Money and Life (2003). "If you truly appreciate what…
Jefftown (Jefferson Avenue, Bushwick, Brooklyn)
"Jefftown" (for the Jefferson Avenue area of Bushwick, Brooklyn) was coined by Royal Chase and trademarked by him with a first use on August 22, 2012. The name "Jefftown" was…
Oscars of Architecture (Architizer’s A+ Awards)
Architizer.com, an online architecture platform, is a New York City-based company that began in 2009. In October 2012, Architizer announced that it would have its first annual A+ architecture…
Reeking Regatta (Buffalo Bayou Regatta nickname)
Houston's annual Buffalo Bayou Regatta was started in 1972 by Wayne Walls and the Houston Canoe Club. The Buffalo Bayou was so polluted that the event was called the "Reeking…
“You can borrow for college, but not for retirement”
"You can borrow for college, but not for retirement" is popular family financial advice. A family can borrow for a child's education, and the child's future earnings can pay off…