Definitions by Darth Ridley

special 

Disbaled, handicaped, or mentally retarded. Odd.

My mommy says I'm special.

Frasier: Dad, do you think we're odd?
Martin: Odd? No. You're not odd. You're just special.

special by Darth Ridley January 26, 2007

stans 

Those countries whose names end in 'stan,' including Afghanistan, Kazhakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and probably some others I've forgotten about.

Now let's see what the weather is like in the stans.

stans by Darth Ridley January 26, 2007

christmas eve eve 

December 23rd, the day before Christmas eve.

In order to avoid the Christmas eve rush, everybody does their last minute Christmas shopping on Christmas eve eve, the result being that December 23rd is the busiest shopping day of the year.

I never realised the insanity of Christmas eve eve until I worked in retail.

christmas eve eve by Darth Ridley January 6, 2007

citation circle 

A group of academics who exclusively cite each other and nobody else.

Rare in science, but surprisingly common in arts and humanities.

Mary's research on sexuality in Victorian times ran into a snag when she hit a citation circle and couldn't get out.

citation circle by Darth Ridley January 6, 2007

dick lit 

Basically, the male equivalent of chick lit. Books aimed at young men, typically with lots of action, adventure, and explosions.

The works of Tom Clancy, Michael Crichton, and Robert Ludlum would probably be considered dick lit, though plenty of older men like these guys a lot too.

dick lit by Darth Ridley January 6, 2007

edit war 

On Wikipedia, an edit war is where someone changes an entry, and then someone else changes it back. These two then keep changing the entry back and forth rather than discussing the matter on the talk page.

Recently, and edit war on Wikipedia's 'British Isles' entry over whether it was right to include Ireland in the British isles led to textbook pbulisher Fallons to remove all references to the 'British isles' from the Irish editions of their atlases.

edit war by Darth Ridley December 27, 2006

holy grail 

The ultimate goal of an occupation, profession, or endeavour.

A cure for AIDS is the holy grail of a number of scientists.

holy grail by Darth Ridley December 27, 2006