“Checkers or wreckers” (auto racing saying)
"Checkers or wreckers" (or "wreckers or checkers") in auto racing means that either the car will come under the checkered flag (win the race) or go to the wreckers (the car will…
Archive for /P34920
Texas Ratio
The "Texas ratio" for checking a bank's fiscal health was developed by Gerard Cassidy of RBC Capital Markets (Portland. ME) in the 1980s. Cassidy was checking Texas banks, but the…
Texas Ratio
The "Texas ratio" for checking a bank's fiscal health was developed by Gerard Cassidy of RBC Capital Markets (Portland. ME) in the 1980s. Cassidy was checking Texas banks, but the…
Little Satan (Israel); Big Satan or Great Satan (United States)
Iranian leader Ruhollah Khomeini (1902-1989) was reported by the Associated Press on November 5, 1979, to have said "the great Satan, America." The term immediately became popular during…
Gulp of Mexico (tequila; Margarita cocktail; Corona beer; Tecate beer)
Several Mexican drinks have been said to be the "Gulp of Mexico" (wordplay on the "Gulf of Mexico"): . Tequila -- Tequila has been called the "Gulp of Mexico" since at…
Sonny Mae or Sony Mae (State of New York Mortgage Agency or SONYMA)
The State of New York Mortgage Agency (SONYMA) was created in 1970. The nickname "Sonny Mae" has been cited in print since at least August 1981 and "Sony Mae" since at least…
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…