Peter Kobs's definitions
1. "Snow Leopard" is the nickname of Kwame Nkrumah-Acheampong, the first Olympic skier from the nation of Ghana. He became a world media sensation in 2010 when he qualified to ski in the Vancouver Olympic Games.
Kwame, 31, grew up in Accra, Ghana, where the average temperature is about 79 degrees F and it has never snowed during his lifetime. He learned to ski only six years ago at artificial snow dome in Milton Keynes, England, where he previously worked as a receptionist.
Despite having no sponsors and very little money, he was able to represent Ghana in the men's slalom event thanks to the generosity of friends and relatives. His special "Snow Leopard" pin became the hottest item in Vancouver as athletes from around the world raced to snap them up. (Only 1,500 were made.)
A father and animal lover, he has a small foundation devoted to the preservation of actual snow leopards in Africa.
2. A very cool guy who knows how to ski very fast.
3. The pride of Africa in this year's Winter Olympics.
Kwame, 31, grew up in Accra, Ghana, where the average temperature is about 79 degrees F and it has never snowed during his lifetime. He learned to ski only six years ago at artificial snow dome in Milton Keynes, England, where he previously worked as a receptionist.
Despite having no sponsors and very little money, he was able to represent Ghana in the men's slalom event thanks to the generosity of friends and relatives. His special "Snow Leopard" pin became the hottest item in Vancouver as athletes from around the world raced to snap them up. (Only 1,500 were made.)
A father and animal lover, he has a small foundation devoted to the preservation of actual snow leopards in Africa.
2. A very cool guy who knows how to ski very fast.
3. The pride of Africa in this year's Winter Olympics.
I'm flying to Vancouver to see "The Snow Leopard" compete in the men's slalom event. Bang those gates, baby!
by Peter Kobs February 20, 2010
Get the Snow Leopard mug.1. A person who is especially "adroit" at using the Android operating system from Google -- a powerful OS designed for cell phones and other mobile devices.
2. Showing talent, skill or cleverness in the use of the Adroid OS, particularly in the development of new mobile applications.
3. The next wave of geek multi-millionaires.
2. Showing talent, skill or cleverness in the use of the Adroid OS, particularly in the development of new mobile applications.
3. The next wave of geek multi-millionaires.
"Oh, Jeremy, you're such an Androit! Do you work for Google or do you just have some sort of weird innate talent for mobile apps?"
"I was born to hack code. Stick with me, baby, and we'll change the world."
"I was born to hack code. Stick with me, baby, and we'll change the world."
by Peter Kobs March 1, 2010
Get the Androit mug.1. A derisive term for older suburbs that are declining into poverty. The word is a combination of "Slum" and "Suburbia."
2. The bleak future for many aging American suburbs.
3. What happens when people refuse to take urban planning seriously.
Slumburbia is almost always found in large metro areas. As middle-class residents move farther and farther away from the urban core, the closer-in suburbs start to deteriorate. Property values fall leading to reduced local tax revenue, decreased public services, declining schools and increasing crime, especially gang activity. This vicious circle continues for years until the suburb itself is no longer distinguishable from the large city it borders.
Examples of Slumburbia: Hamtramck, Michigan; Somerville, Massachusetts; Camden, New Jersey; and Compton, California.
2. The bleak future for many aging American suburbs.
3. What happens when people refuse to take urban planning seriously.
Slumburbia is almost always found in large metro areas. As middle-class residents move farther and farther away from the urban core, the closer-in suburbs start to deteriorate. Property values fall leading to reduced local tax revenue, decreased public services, declining schools and increasing crime, especially gang activity. This vicious circle continues for years until the suburb itself is no longer distinguishable from the large city it borders.
Examples of Slumburbia: Hamtramck, Michigan; Somerville, Massachusetts; Camden, New Jersey; and Compton, California.
by Peter Kobs March 9, 2010
Get the Slumburbia mug.1. A sudden feeling of intense dread associated with the Toyota Prius hybrid automobile.
Owners of the formerly chic enviro-friendly car now live in fear that their vehicle will suddenly accelerate out of control, propelling them over a cliff.
2. The scourge of the Toyota PR Department. Whether true or not, millions of people now believe that the Prius is a dangerous car.
Owners of the formerly chic enviro-friendly car now live in fear that their vehicle will suddenly accelerate out of control, propelling them over a cliff.
2. The scourge of the Toyota PR Department. Whether true or not, millions of people now believe that the Prius is a dangerous car.
by Peter Kobs March 11, 2010
Get the Prius Panic mug.1. The agonizing mental process of accepting that football season is finally over.
This serious mental disorder afflicts millions of Americans every year, usually in the second week of February. Effective therapy is not available until the following August, at the earliest.
2. A crisis in the national spirit that is mitigated (only slightly) by the arrival of March Madness -- the NCAA basketball tournament.
3. The realization that life as we know it has ended, at least for six torturously long months.
4. Proof that Arena Football will never take the place of the real thing.
This serious mental disorder afflicts millions of Americans every year, usually in the second week of February. Effective therapy is not available until the following August, at the earliest.
2. A crisis in the national spirit that is mitigated (only slightly) by the arrival of March Madness -- the NCAA basketball tournament.
3. The realization that life as we know it has ended, at least for six torturously long months.
4. Proof that Arena Football will never take the place of the real thing.
Hank was hospitalized on February 12 with severe anxiety and chest pain. Following a series of CAT scans at the Mayo Clinic, he was diagnozed with Football Withdrawal Syndrome (FWS). May God have mercy on his soul.
by Peter Kobs January 1, 2010
Get the Football Withdrawal Syndrome mug.1. The act of banning any Taliban member from a specific area or activity.
Examples include: Crossing a border, entering a city, serving on a tribal committee or boarding an airplane. In some cases, local governments are trying to recruit ex-Taliban members into the fold, providing a way out from "Talibanishment."
2. The continuing effort by Pakistani and Afghani officials to eliminate Taliban violence by labeling specific individuals or groups as terrorists.
3. An extremely difficult task.
Examples include: Crossing a border, entering a city, serving on a tribal committee or boarding an airplane. In some cases, local governments are trying to recruit ex-Taliban members into the fold, providing a way out from "Talibanishment."
2. The continuing effort by Pakistani and Afghani officials to eliminate Taliban violence by labeling specific individuals or groups as terrorists.
3. An extremely difficult task.
by Peter Kobs January 4, 2010
Get the Talibanned mug.1. The next wave of personal computing from Apple.
Set to be introduced in late spring or early summer 2010, the Apple iSlate is a new tablet computer with a high-resolution touch screen and sleek black design. The device is about the size of a telephone book cover, but less than 1/2-inch thick.
The iSlate offers all the functionality of an Apple laptop (e.g., iMac Air), but in a sleek one-piece design with many new extras. The virtual keyboard is similar to the iPod "electronic keyboard," but is almost the same size as a regular physical keyboard.
Besides thousands of computer applications, the iSlate also plays movies, music and games. With optional services, it can also work as a video-conferencing device (using the built-in video camera) and a telephone. Of course, it comes with built-in WiFi access and optional 3G wireless Internet access.
The iSlate takes advantage of recent advances in super-thin flash memory, battery design, smudge-resistant coatings and thin-film transistor display technology. Essentially, the iSlate is an advanced next generation "hybrid" of the iPod Touch, iPhone and MacBook Air laptop, but with many new cool features and a stunning new user experience. It may eventually replace the standard laptop for many users.
Set to be introduced in late spring or early summer 2010, the Apple iSlate is a new tablet computer with a high-resolution touch screen and sleek black design. The device is about the size of a telephone book cover, but less than 1/2-inch thick.
The iSlate offers all the functionality of an Apple laptop (e.g., iMac Air), but in a sleek one-piece design with many new extras. The virtual keyboard is similar to the iPod "electronic keyboard," but is almost the same size as a regular physical keyboard.
Besides thousands of computer applications, the iSlate also plays movies, music and games. With optional services, it can also work as a video-conferencing device (using the built-in video camera) and a telephone. Of course, it comes with built-in WiFi access and optional 3G wireless Internet access.
The iSlate takes advantage of recent advances in super-thin flash memory, battery design, smudge-resistant coatings and thin-film transistor display technology. Essentially, the iSlate is an advanced next generation "hybrid" of the iPod Touch, iPhone and MacBook Air laptop, but with many new cool features and a stunning new user experience. It may eventually replace the standard laptop for many users.
by Peter Kobs January 13, 2010
Get the iSlate mug.