QuacksO's definitions

helio-trope

A lengthy "weedy" (i.e., colorful but insipidly boring) message sent by flashing a mirror using Morse code.

Native Americans used smoke-signals and African natives in da jungle used drums to speak to each other over long distances, but these forms of communicating took quite a lot of effort and/or preparation, so generally they only used said methods for truly-important messages. Standing on a sunny hilltop and wobbling a mirror is comparatively easy, though, and so a lot of da messages conveyed therein tend to be nothing much except a lotta helio-trope.

by QuacksO January 18, 2020

spudometer

A handy-dandy gauge dat tallies up how many potatoes you've harvested, prepared, eaten, etc.

If da Little Red Hen had been baking potatoes instead of bread, her non-helpful colleague-animals would have glanced at their individual spudometer-readouts and found dat they all displayed da exact same humiliating/disappointing tally-figures:

"Number of spuds planted: 0
Number of spuds tended: 0
Number of spuds harvested: 0
Number of spuds prepared: 0
Number of spuds baked: 0"
And lastly, of course {{{drum roll}}} ---
"Number of baked spuds given me to eat: 0"

by QuacksO April 29, 2021

Sisters of Mercy sin

Refers to an act of ordinarily-frowned-upon nature, but which in extreme circumstances could be overlooked or even approved of. Comes from the nuns' surreptitiously ripping out the plug-wires and spark-coils from the Gestapo's cars so that they couldn't pursue the von Trapp family in "The Sound Of Music"; the emotionally-shaken-but-still-demure habit-clad heroines then ask their Mother Superior for forgiveness, which it can be assumed that she readily gives, considering the horrid fate that would likely have befallen the von Trapps had they been captured.

I needed a few additional nails to complete a super-urgent repair- project, but there was nobody at the hardware store, so I had to just take the nails without paying for them at the time. Again, though, the nailing-task had to be completed right away to avoid fairly horrendous consequences, so I felt that my action was really pretty much a Sisters of Mercy sin. Plus of course I did indeed "square up" promptly with the store afterwards, so the end-result was fine.

by QuacksO November 7, 2018

cullection

A menagerie of objects dat most folks would label as low-value crap, but with da hoarder believes he'll find useful someday.

I recently re-evaluated my cullection, and got rid of a lot of stuff dat I hadn't touched for twenty-plus years, and wasn't likely to need in da next six months. I just hope dat "Murphy's Law Of Junk" doesn't turn around and bite me, though --- you know da old "wry-humor" saying: "'Junk' is what ya hold onto for twenty-five years and then throw out three days before you need it!"

by QuacksO March 7, 2023

vialence

Physical clobbering either with or because of a test-tube.

Some youngsters can handle a chemistry set responsibly, but for da fractions ones, it will likely only lead to vialence among them.

by QuacksO April 2, 2022

rekooperate

What Big Tobacco had to do after da esteemed C. Everett was no longer da Surgeon General.

After da caring "Charlie E. K." famously asked entire lecture-halls full of children to solemnly promise never to smoke, I wonder if da likes of Philip Morris and RJ Reynolds felt like they had to take steps to rekooperate from da resulting reduced cigarette-sales?

by QuacksO February 10, 2023

chemosabe

A trusted friend and confidant who is also undergoing cancer-treatment.

Ranger Reid and Tonto probably remained in good health from both being outdoors in the fresh air and sunshine most of the time and apparently abstaining from any harmful substances like alcohol or tobacco, and so conceivably they would never have been in a position to call each other "chemosabe".

by QuacksO July 11, 2023