Grinning Cat's definitions

pencing

(v.) present participle of pence: avoiding a direct answer to a question, as exemplified by Indiana Governor Mike Pence in his interview on "This Week" on March 29, 2015, about the broad "religious freedom" bill he signed.

Examples of pencing:

George Stephanopoulos: "Yes or no: If a florist in Indiana refuses to serve a gay couple at their wedding, is that legal now in Indiana?"

Mike Pence: "George, this is where this debate has gone."

"Is that true or not?"

"George, look, the issue here is that, y'know..."

"Yes or no: should it be legal to discriminate against gays and lesbians?"

"George, you're following the mantra of the last week online, and you're trying to make the issue about something else."

by Grinning Cat April 1, 2015

monogamy

The custom or condition of having only one mate in an intimate relationship, of being dedicated to a single partner.

Monogamy is a traditional ideal in various societies, yet many people in these societies are not monogamous.

Cheating (being involved with someone else, with secrecy and deception) is a destructive way to be nonmonogamous. On the other hand, swinging and polyamory (types of responsible nonmonogamy based on the knowledge and consent of everyone involved) are viable choices for some people.

by Grinning Cat March 6, 2008

election

The worst system of choosing among candidates for public office -- except for all the others.

"The turnout for the election wasn't even 40% of eligible voters. The winner got a slight majority of that, so four out of five people DIDN'T vote for him. So from that he concludes he has a popular 'mandate'?!"

by Grinning Cat January 5, 2009

Christmahannukwanzadan

A term that, while an attempt to be inclusive of various winter holidays and "festivals of light", also displays ignorance that Ramadan has no connection with the seasons of the solar year. Ramadan (a month of major religious observances within the Islamic lunar calendar) moves backwards through the solar calendar about eleven days every year.

In some years Ramadan gains visibility as it is coincidentally observed near the winter "holiday season", but it actually keeps cycling through the seasons.

In 2010 Ramadan spanned parts of August and September.
In 2011 Ramadan will fall approximately between August 1 and August 29 or 30.
This demonstrates that "Christmahannukwanzadan" illogically groups Ramadan with winter holidays.

by Grinning Cat December 27, 2010

ain't

am not, are not, is not; have not, has not; do not, does not, did not.

"Ain't" ain't a word 'cause "ain't" ain't in the dictionary.

by Grinning Cat January 8, 2013

congresscritter

A congresswoman or congressman: an elected official who serves in the House of Representatives, the lower house of the United States Congress. "Congresscritters" can also, loosely, include U.S. Senators. The term is gender-neutral, and also attempts to remove these elected representatives from their pedestals.

"Writing to your congresscritters about an issue may seem pointless, but when enough people -- you and your friends and their friends and THEIR friends -- make their voices heard, the congresscritters will realize that their chances of reelection ARE affected by doing the right thing."

by Grinning Cat January 5, 2009

Jibbers Crabst

All hail our crustacean Lord and Savior™!

"I believe... that all things on this earth were created... by GOD!
And I don't mean Jesus. And I don't mean Buddha. And I don't mean Allah.
And I don't mean some general god that we can all rally around and believe in.
I mean my god, my town, and my church.
My god is a fire-breathing lobster who lives behind the rings of Saturn.
And his name is Jibbers Crabst."

(Matt Inman, keynote speaker at BAHFest West 2014)

by Grinning Cat April 7, 2015