JRob's definitions

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

Iraqnophobia

An unusually strong fear of Iraq, especially its ability to manufacture and use biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. (A play on arachnophobia, an unusually strong fear of spiders.)

Now that September is here, President Bush can launch his "initial public offering" of stock in his newest product, Iraqnophobia.

by JRob October 5, 2005

ransom factor

The tendency for one party in a civil case to settle out of court to avoid the potentially high cost of fighting the case.

Newspaper publishers, when faced with a potential libel case, often try to settle out of court by paying a ransom factor rather than take their chances with a jury trial.

by JRob November 3, 2005

dread merchant

A person who makes a living by predicting disasters and worst-case scenarios.

Guy1: What's the news, man?

Guy2: Bird Flu, terrorists, hurricanes, global warming, the price of gasoline and natural gas and electricity skyrocketing, death toll in Iraq . . .

Guy1: Boy, the dread merchants are busy lately!

by JRob November 7, 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

Digilanti

Combining digerati expertise with vigilante initiative, the digilanti anonymously police the Internet, exposing scams and fighting spam in the interest of making the Web safe without government intervention.

Oh-oh - watch out for Dan The Digilanti! No swears while he's online.

by JRob August 8, 2007

midair passenger exchange

Seen on blogs, this is grim air-traffic-controller speak for a head-on collision. Midair passenger exchanges are quickly followed by "aluminum rain".

Controller 1: Man, THAT was a close call!
Controller 2: Yeah - we almost had a midair passenger exchange!

by JRob January 1, 2012