Flash Crash
A "flash crash" is a sudden stock market decline. This can be triggered by computer selling, turning a small stock market drop into a crash in just a matter of minutes. The May 6, 2010…
Archive for /P36180
“Tight as a tick” (said of a close election)
A close political election is often said to be "tight as a tick." Television broadcast journalist Dan Rather (who frequently uses Texas expressions generally unknown to most of his…
“A nation of sheep will beget a government of wolves”
"A nation/society of sheep will beget a government of wolves" is often credited to American broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow (1909-1965). The saying means that the electorate cannot…
Presstitute (press + prostitute)
"Presstitute" (press + prostitute) describes a member of the press who lets other considerations get in the way of reporting the truth. Sometimes "soft" reporting occurs because…
Grunning (running + gunning)
Texas Governor Rick Perry (Republican) was jogging with his daughter's dog, in February 2010, when Perry spotted a coyote about to attack the dog. Perry got out his gun and killed the coyote…
“Politics makes strange bedfellows”
"Misery acquaints a man with strange bedfellows,” wrote William Shakespeare in his play, The Tempest (1611). "Politics makes strange bedfellows" (or, "Politics make strange…
“Secrecy is the breeding ground of tyranny” (“Secrecy is the beginning of tyranny”)
Secrecy (especially government secrecy) has often been condemned. A 1956 book by Bertram David Wolfe, Six keys to the Soviet system, describes Soviet government this way: "Everything is done…
“What’s the damage?” (cost of the meal)
"What's the damage?" means "What's the cost (of the meal)?" The question is often said to a waiter, who then presents the bill. The phrase is also said by a diner to…
“Socialism is workable only in heaven, where it isn’t needed, and in hell, where they’ve got it”
Canadian economist and humorist Stephen Leacock (1869-1944) wrote this in 1935: "But this socialism, this communism, would only work in Heaven where they don’t need it, or in Hell where they…
“If you’re explaining, you’re losing”
"If you're explaining, you're losing' is a political axiom that dates in print to at least the 1980s. A politician who has to explain is often confusing and losing his or her…
Manufactroversy (manufactured controversy)
"Manufactroversy" (a "manufactured controversy") was used and defined by Leah Ceccarelli, on April 11, 2008, in a Science Progress article titled "Manufactroversy: The Art…
“Politics is the world’s second oldest profession”
Prostitution is often called the "world's oldest profession." Ronald Reagan (1911-2004) said in 1975: "I have also learned that politics, which is often called the second oldest…
“They have fought grandly, nobly, and we must have more of them”
“They have fought grandly, nobly, and we must have more of them," wrote Confederate General Robert E. Lee on September 21, 1862, to General Louis T. Wigfall. General Lee was referring to the…
Permabear (Perma-bear)
A "permabear" (or "perma-bear" or "perma bear") is a person who believe that the stock market will go down -- a "bear market" pessimist or "permanent…
Permabull (Perma-bull)
A "permabull" (or "perma-bull" or "perma bull") is a person who believe that the stock market will go up -- a "bull market" optimist or "permanent…
“Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get”
"Success is getting what you want; happiness is wanting what you get" has been attributed to the New York (NY) American newspaper since January 1922. The saying -- anthologized in several…
Raaaaacism or Raaaaacist (“There are five A’s in ‘raaaaacism’”)
"Racism!" and "Racist! are politically charged terms, often used after other factual arguments fail. The political right has often charged that the political left uses the "race…
Fat Finger
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wiktionary: fat-fingerAlternative spellingsfat finger, fatfinger Etymologyfat + finger, the implication being that a person who fat-fingers does so because his or her…
Odessa (summary)
Entry in progress -- B.P. Wikipedia: Odessa, TexasOdessa is a city in and the county seat of Ector County, Texas, United States. It is located primarily in Ector County, although a small portion of…
“If everybody’s thinking alike, somebody isn’t thinking”
"If everybody is thinking alike, then somebody isn't thinking" is often credited to General George S. Patton, Jr. (1885-1945). Patton might have said it, but "If everybody is…