Peter Kobs's definitions
1. A public relations strategy frequently used by government agencies, corporations and law enforcement officials. It means "feed them manure and keep them in the dark."
The goal is to delay any public disclosure of information as long as possible by releasing half-truths, distortions and useless information to the media.
Origin of the Metaphor: Farmers use manure, millet and recycled wood chips to grow mushrooms in dark, steamy rooms. Hence, "feed them manure and keep them in the dark."
The goal is to delay any public disclosure of information as long as possible by releasing half-truths, distortions and useless information to the media.
Origin of the Metaphor: Farmers use manure, millet and recycled wood chips to grow mushrooms in dark, steamy rooms. Hence, "feed them manure and keep them in the dark."
Detective: "That reporter from the News-Tribune keeps calling me about our runaway child case. What should I do?"
Police Chief: "Try the Mushroom Method. He'll lose interest after a few days and move on to something else. I've seen it work a million times."
Police Chief: "Try the Mushroom Method. He'll lose interest after a few days and move on to something else. I've seen it work a million times."
by Peter Kobs July 19, 2010
Get the Mushroom Methodmug. 1. The act of re-employing someone (who was previously laid off) as a temp worker, usually at a lower wage scale.
2. What happens to many people who have lost their permanent jobs following the crash of 2008.
3. Another sign of the harsh economic times in which we live.
2. What happens to many people who have lost their permanent jobs following the crash of 2008.
3. Another sign of the harsh economic times in which we live.
Acme Industries is having a Reployment Fair at the hotel downtown. They'll re-hire you as a temp at about half of what you were earning last year.
by Peter Kobs December 7, 2009
Get the Reploymentmug. 1. An act of extreme stupidity by the U.S. Supreme Court.
2. An attempt to undermine democracy or destroy human rights through judicial fiat.
3. What happens when a bunch of clueless lawyers pretend to be God.
Notable examples include:
-- The recent (2010) decision to allow unlimited corporate and interest group contributions to U.S. political campaigns.
-- The Buck vs. Bell ruling that permitted forced sterilization of the mentall ill. Justice Holmes said at the time: “Three generations of imbeciles are enough.”
-- The Dred Scott case that invalidated restrictions on slavery, while mandating that all African-Americans be treated as "property" in the eyes of the law.
-- Plessy v. Ferguson, which formally legalized segregation, Jim Crow laws and minority disenfranchisement throughout the nation.
2. An attempt to undermine democracy or destroy human rights through judicial fiat.
3. What happens when a bunch of clueless lawyers pretend to be God.
Notable examples include:
-- The recent (2010) decision to allow unlimited corporate and interest group contributions to U.S. political campaigns.
-- The Buck vs. Bell ruling that permitted forced sterilization of the mentall ill. Justice Holmes said at the time: “Three generations of imbeciles are enough.”
-- The Dred Scott case that invalidated restrictions on slavery, while mandating that all African-Americans be treated as "property" in the eyes of the law.
-- Plessy v. Ferguson, which formally legalized segregation, Jim Crow laws and minority disenfranchisement throughout the nation.
The highest court in the land committed another act of Supreme Stupidity in January 2010 when it opened the floodgates to unlimited corporate cash in the election process. Can you say "plutocracy?" Sure you can!
by Peter Kobs February 18, 2010
Get the Supreme Stupiditymug. 1. Envy of another person's higher-resolution camera or flat-panel display screen.
2. The sudden realization that 8 Megapixels no longer cuts it in the digital photography world.
2. The sudden realization that 8 Megapixels no longer cuts it in the digital photography world.
"Daryl has a bad case of Pixel Envy ever since his girlfriend got that new 10 MP Nikon SLR. He may never recover."
by Peter Kobs September 4, 2009
Get the Pixel Envymug. 1. A political theory invented by arch-conservative Joseph Overton, VP of the anti-tax Mackinac Center for Public Policy in Midland, Michigan. (Overton died in 2003 when his ultra-light airplane crashed.)
2. The name of a poorly-written novel by right-wing talk show host Glen Beck. Published in early 2010, the book is a cautionary tale about leftist radicals taking over the government through incremental change.
In theory, the Overton Window represents the boundaries of "acceptable" public policy and discourse -- what a politician can support without seeming too "extreme." Opposing forces try to broaden this window (or shift it to one side) to make formerly "radical" ideas seem more "mainstream."
Overton's theory has a decidedly pro-business, anti-regulation slant. Something is either "more free" or "less free" in his view. He never mentions "more just" or "more fair" or "more practical." In fact, the entire theory tailor made for paranoid people and right-wing lunatics who think Obama is a totalitarian Marxist dictator bent on world domination.
2. The name of a poorly-written novel by right-wing talk show host Glen Beck. Published in early 2010, the book is a cautionary tale about leftist radicals taking over the government through incremental change.
In theory, the Overton Window represents the boundaries of "acceptable" public policy and discourse -- what a politician can support without seeming too "extreme." Opposing forces try to broaden this window (or shift it to one side) to make formerly "radical" ideas seem more "mainstream."
Overton's theory has a decidedly pro-business, anti-regulation slant. Something is either "more free" or "less free" in his view. He never mentions "more just" or "more fair" or "more practical." In fact, the entire theory tailor made for paranoid people and right-wing lunatics who think Obama is a totalitarian Marxist dictator bent on world domination.
The Overton Window is yet another idiotic theory masquerading as a "breakthrough" in political understanding. Its leading proponent is Glen Beck of Fox News...'nuf said.
by Peter Kobs July 20, 2010
Get the Overton Windowmug. 1. A new form of capitalism that emphasizes government intervention in the economy to rescue and restructure large companies that are deemed "too big to fail" because of the systemic risk they pose to the nation.
2. The opposite of Marxism, which anticipates the collapse of the entire capitalist system and the seizure of all "means of production" -- healthy companies included.
3. An economic system that prevents large, poorly managed companies from destroying the entire country.
2. The opposite of Marxism, which anticipates the collapse of the entire capitalist system and the seizure of all "means of production" -- healthy companies included.
3. An economic system that prevents large, poorly managed companies from destroying the entire country.
Obama has been called a "socialist," but history will show he's really a clever student of "Neocapitalism."
by Peter Kobs May 25, 2009
Get the Neocapitalismmug. 1. An economist or investor who claims to know when the stock market has "bottomed out" based on inside information or a unique set of obscure metrics. 2. Someone who tells you to "get back in the market" because the turnaround has begun. 3. A charlatan.
Ted says we should start buying stock again because the semi-conductor market is firming up in Taiwan. He's one of those Turnaround Tipsters on CNBC.
by Peter Kobs March 10, 2009
Get the Turnaround Tipstermug.