jrob's definitions

lifehack

A tool or technique that makes some aspect of one's life easier or more efficient.

Web sites now exist, where lifehacker (followers of the movement) can trade lifehacks - suggestions on how to reduce chaos and make their lives more enjoyable.

by JRob December 7, 2005

tarantism

(TAR-uhn-tiz-uhm)- An uncontrollable urge to dance - After Taranto, a town in southern Italy where this phenomenon was experienced during the 15-17th centuries. It's not clear whether tarantism was the symptom of a spider's bite or its cure, or it may have been just a pretext to dodge a
prohibition against dancing. The names of the dance tarantella and the spider tarantula are both derived from the same place.

"The director is in a wild delirium, spinning in circles as though stricken with tarantism, his whirring camera held at arm's length, panning, tilting, arcing and oscillating and making other moves that have no name."

by JRob August 25, 2006

robustious

(roh-BUHS-chuhs)- Boisterous; vigorous - Coarse; rough; crude.

When the meaning of the disturbance became clear to him he placed a hand beside his mouth and shouted: "Hey! Frank!" in such a robustious voice that the feeble clamor of the natives was drowned and silenced.
-- O. Henry, Cabbages and Kings

by JRob August 25, 2006

Po-tay-to po-tah-to

Taken from the Louis Armstrong Lyrics to "Let's Call The Whole Thing Off":
"You like potato and I like potahto, You like tomato and I like tomahto
Potato, potahto, Tomato, tomahto, Let's call the whole thing off."
Used by somebody comparing two things that are essentially interchangeable or two words for the same thing.

Republicans - Right-wing crooks. Po-tay-to po-tah-to.

by JRob August 8, 2005

spalker

A car that follows you in the parking lot hoping to get your space. Most usually at Wal-Mart, but also happens at upper class joints.

Him: Don't look back, man - we've got a spalker behind us!

Her: Shut up and take these bags so I can get the keys out of my purse.

by JRob August 22, 2005

bear bait

On a highway, car that passes you going way over the posted speed limit. If there is a speed trap ahead, he will get caught instead of you. See also cop cleaner. The bear part comes from "Smokey The Bear" - shortened to "Bear" - old CB'er term for a highway patrol officer because of their rather distictive headgear which resembles a national park ranger's hat.

Trucker 1: "Breaker, breaker - Jimmy, I gotta make up some time - any Bears around? Over."
Trucker 2: "Not seen any, Peter - but that young buck blew by us in the Eclipse musta been doing about 90. Bear bait fer sure. Over."

by JRob September 19, 2005

cashtray

A car ashtray that has been repurposed as a coinholder.

Here comes another toll - open the cashtray!

by JRob July 13, 2005