Eighth of seven's definitions

book of words

1. The instructions, user or technical manual for a piece of equipment.

2. By inference, any important piece of documentation, either as treeware or in electronic form.

"Where's the Book of Words for the router ?"

"I've logged the fault in the Book of Words."

by Eighth of Seven January 15, 2007

puddle-jumper

A light aircraft, particularly a single-engined private aircraft with limited range and performance; used perjoratively by "real" pilots.

"The day job is jockeying 777's, but I have a Cessna puddle-jumper for the weekends".

by eighth of seven January 31, 2010

Fat Albert

R.A.F. slang for a C-130 "Hercules" transport aircraft and its derivatives. Generally considered a term of affection for the aircraft type.

"We'll have to hold short, I just heard there's a Fat Albert on finals."

by eighth of seven November 8, 2007

Total replacement therapy

When something is so badly damaged that the only option is to get a new one; it might be a critical component, or the whole thing.

"Can you fix it ?"

"No. Your hard drive is screwed. Total replacement therapy is indicated."

"Bugger !"

by eighth of seven February 6, 2010

Big Red Reset Switch

The main power switch, often on computer equipment but applicable to any piece of equipment. Used to stop the system when all other control inputs have failed, often because of a system crash or lockup.

Tech 1: "Buggeration, we have the Blue Screen Of Death yet again !"

Tech 2: "Shit. Give me a sec, I shall apply my digital extremity to the Big Red Reset Switch"

<Click>

<Click>

Tech 1: "Ok, it's rebooting now".

by eighth of seven February 6, 2010

oldthinker

A newspeak word invented by george orwell in his book 1984.

An oldthinker is one who clings to old or outmoded ways of thought. Orwell defines it as, "... typical sentence .... as 'Oldthinkers unbellyfeel Ingsoc'. The shortest rendering that one could make of this in Oldspeak would be: 'Those whose ideas were formed before the Revolution cannot have a full emotional understanding of the principles of English Socialism.' But this is not an adequate translation.....

Used by geeks in a perjorative way about anyone who is not techno-savvy.

"My Dad's a real Oldthinker - he won't even have a mobile phone !"

"Come the Revolution, all you Oldthinkers will be put up against a wall and shot !"

by Eighth of Seven January 15, 2007

running on impulse engines

In the original Star Trek series, whenever the main engines (warp drive) broke down (which was pretty frequent) the Enterprise would only be able to move using "impulse engines" - a low power, sub-lightspeed manouvering system based on a small fusion ram/ion drive.

By inference, someone described as "running on impilse engines" or "impulse power only" is either:

1. Very tired (a.k.a. 'running on empty')

2. Genuinely ill

3. (derog.) Slow and/or stupid.

"Jesus, I've just had to brief the sales guys on the new product.... they're all running on impulse engies up there".

"You want to go for a beer ?"

"No, man, I'm running on impulse engines... got to go home and grab some sleep."

by Eighth of Seven May 24, 2007