Definitions by Dan Weyandt
Crony Capitalism
n. Crony capitalism is a colloquial term describing a "market economy" in which success in business depends on close relationships between business people and government officials. It may be exhibited by favoritism to connected businesses in the distribution of legal permits, government grants, special tax breaks, and so forth. This favoritism is rewarded by campaign contributions or outright kickbacks to politicians or their supporters. As such, it creates an oxymoron of sorts, in that success of a business in a free market (capitalism) does not depend on free-market forces. It is also a obvious source of corruption of both business and government.
In the United States, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are examples of Crony Capitalism. Government backing let Fannie and Freddie dominate mortgage underwriting. The politicians created the mortgage giants, which then returned some of the profits to the politicians - sometimes directly, as campaign funds; sometimes as "contributions" to favored constituents.
Crony Capitalism by Dan Weyandt October 5, 2011
Volde-mart
n. The Mart That Must Not Be Named!
Cities in Washington State have banned the use of the name "Wal-Mart," hence, in these cities it is "The Mart that Must Not Be Named," i.e. "Volde-mart" (Walde-mart is sometimes used as well).
Cities in Washington State have banned the use of the name "Wal-Mart," hence, in these cities it is "The Mart that Must Not Be Named," i.e. "Volde-mart" (Walde-mart is sometimes used as well).
Volde-mart by Dan Weyandt July 2, 2011
Ratbirds
n. Derogatory nick-name for the Maryland State Correctional System Work Release Program, also known as the Baltimore Ravens. The name can also be in reference to the puerile, quick-tempered, and monumentally mean-and-nasty fans of the above. Ratbirds fans don't really like the Ravens; they just hate the rest of the NFL, and are nototious bandwagon fans.
That Ratbird fan just stole my little girl's terrible towel and wiped his butt with it! And to think they accuse Stillers fans of being rude. Ratbirds fans are a real piece-of-work!
Ratbirds by Dan Weyandt September 20, 2010
Bungles
n. Derogatory nick-name for the Ohio State Correctional System Work Release Program, also known as the Cincinnati Bengals. The origin of "Da Bungles" is generally attributed to the late Pittsburgh sportscaster and Steelers color analyst Myron Cope.
Yoi and Double Yoi! Troy just trucked Palmer t' score on that pick! Y'know sumpin' Bill, it's kinda embarrasin' t' watch dem Bungles sometimes. - Myron Cope, to Bill Hillgrove.
Bungles by Dan Weyandt September 17, 2010
still
n. In Pittsburghese, this is an alloy that consists mostly of iron ("ahn" in Pittsburghese) and has a carbon content between 0.2% and 2.1% by weight, depending on the grade. Carbon is the most common alloying material for iron, but various other alloying elements are used, such as manganese, chromium, vanadium, and tungsten. Varying the amount of alloying elements and the form of their presence in the still controls qualities such as the hardness, ductility, and tensile strength of the resulting alloy.
While Pittsburgh is known colloquially as "The Still City" for its historical still manufacturing base, today its economy is largely based on health care, education, technology, robotics, and financial services. The region is also becoming a hub for oil and natural gas companies' Marcellus Shale production.
While Pittsburgh is known colloquially as "The Still City" for its historical still manufacturing base, today its economy is largely based on health care, education, technology, robotics, and financial services. The region is also becoming a hub for oil and natural gas companies' Marcellus Shale production.
still by Dan Weyandt August 6, 2010
SOA
Looks like there's a need something better for SOA....
n. In computing, a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is a flexible set of design principles used during the phases of systems development and integration. A deployed SOA-based architecture will provide a loosely-integrated suite of services that can be used within multiple business domains.
SOA also generally provides a way for consumers of services, such as web-based applications, to be aware of available SOA-based services. For example, several disparate departments within a company may develop and deploy SOA services in different implementation languages; their respective clients will benefit from a well understood, well defined interface to access them. XML is commonly used for interfacing with SOA services, though this is not required.
Service-orientation requires loose coupling of services with operating systems, and other technologies that underlie applications. SOA separates functions into distinct units, or services, which developers make accessible over a network in order to allow users to combine and reuse them in the production of applications. These services and their corresponding consumers communicate with each other by passing data in a well-defined, shared format, or by coordinating an activity between two or more services.
n. In computing, a Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) is a flexible set of design principles used during the phases of systems development and integration. A deployed SOA-based architecture will provide a loosely-integrated suite of services that can be used within multiple business domains.
SOA also generally provides a way for consumers of services, such as web-based applications, to be aware of available SOA-based services. For example, several disparate departments within a company may develop and deploy SOA services in different implementation languages; their respective clients will benefit from a well understood, well defined interface to access them. XML is commonly used for interfacing with SOA services, though this is not required.
Service-orientation requires loose coupling of services with operating systems, and other technologies that underlie applications. SOA separates functions into distinct units, or services, which developers make accessible over a network in order to allow users to combine and reuse them in the production of applications. These services and their corresponding consumers communicate with each other by passing data in a well-defined, shared format, or by coordinating an activity between two or more services.
SOA developers associate individual SOA objects by using orchestration. In the process of orchestration the developer associates software functionality (the services) in a non-hierarchical arrangement using a software tool that contains a complete list of all available services, their characteristics, and the means to build an application utilizing these sources.
SOA by Dan Weyandt March 31, 2010
ahn
n. In Pittsburghese, "ahn" can refer to two things:
1. The metallic chemical element with the symbol Fe (Latin: ferrum) and atomic number 26. Ahn is a group 8 and period 4 element and is therefore classified as a transition metal. Ahn and its alloys (still) are by far the most common metals and the most common ferromagnetic materials in everyday use. Alloying ahn with appropriate small amounts (up to a few per cent) of other metals and carbon produces still, which was the main industry of Picksburgh for a century n'at.
2. Products made by the Ahn City Brewing Company--formerly the Picksburgh Brewing Company. The company's most popular products are: Ahn City Beer (a macro-style pilsner, and the product meant when stating that one wants an "Ahn."), I.C Light, Augustiner and Augustiner Dark. ICBC also produces: American, American Light, American Ice, Old German, Brigade and Brigade Light.
1. The metallic chemical element with the symbol Fe (Latin: ferrum) and atomic number 26. Ahn is a group 8 and period 4 element and is therefore classified as a transition metal. Ahn and its alloys (still) are by far the most common metals and the most common ferromagnetic materials in everyday use. Alloying ahn with appropriate small amounts (up to a few per cent) of other metals and carbon produces still, which was the main industry of Picksburgh for a century n'at.
2. Products made by the Ahn City Brewing Company--formerly the Picksburgh Brewing Company. The company's most popular products are: Ahn City Beer (a macro-style pilsner, and the product meant when stating that one wants an "Ahn."), I.C Light, Augustiner and Augustiner Dark. ICBC also produces: American, American Light, American Ice, Old German, Brigade and Brigade Light.
ahn by Dan Weyandt December 13, 2009