noun: railroad acronym for "Flashing Rear End Device", the "black box" attached to the rear of most freight trains in the US since the 1980's, replacing the caboose.
Officially known as an End of Train Device (EOT), this is attached to the rear coupler and air brake line of the last car on the train. The device incorporates a pressure sensor and a radio to transmit brake line air pressure back to the lead locomotive, and a flashing red light to serve as a warning marker to other trains at night.
Also referred to in less complimentary terms as a "Fucking Rear End Device", due to the fact that early versions were heavy, cumbersome to handle, and not known to be especially reliable.
Officially known as an End of Train Device (EOT), this is attached to the rear coupler and air brake line of the last car on the train. The device incorporates a pressure sensor and a radio to transmit brake line air pressure back to the lead locomotive, and a flashing red light to serve as a warning marker to other trains at night.
Also referred to in less complimentary terms as a "Fucking Rear End Device", due to the fact that early versions were heavy, cumbersome to handle, and not known to be especially reliable.
"FRED is telling us we have no air. Either we broke the train in two (uncoupled cars or broke a coupler knuckle, which would disconnect an air line) or somebody closed an angle cock (valve that supplies air pressure to individual car brakes)."
by speedstan March 01, 2010
noun: derisive term for a recruit, trainee, or new member to an organization who is untrained and not yet educated/adjusted to the organizations working practices or culture, one who continually embarrasses him/herself and others with ignorant and inappropriate behavior. Term is military in origin, short for "slick-sleeves" referring to an E-1 or lowest rank in the military (Airman Basic in USAF, Private in Army or Marine Corps), as these individuals have no stripes on their uniforms, hence "slick sleeves". Term is liberally used in basic training during the first week when a D.I. (drill instructor) has yet to learn the name of all recruits in his platoon/squadron.
(Drill Instructor): "Forward, March!"
(Drill Instructor): "NO, Slick, start on your OTHER left foot!"
(Drill Instructor): "NO, Slick, start on your OTHER left foot!"
by speedstan February 24, 2010
US military (specifically Air Force military transport) jargon ca. 1970s-1980s, referring to an operation or undertaking involving an unnecessarily large number of people, most of them contributing nothing or actually impeding progress. Typically used to refer to flightline operations where military brass felt it necessary to make their presence felt and impede the normal duties/operations of the aircrew, offering "advice" or "assistance" that was neither requested nor needed.
"We got gear up and flaps up out of Norton (Air Force Base) on time, no sweat, but Travis was a major goat-rope and a half. We had three times as many Base Ops types and ground-pounders in the cargo compartment as crewmembers, and the only reason they finally got the hell out of the way is that they didn't want to buy a crew delay."
by speedstan May 05, 2008
noun: 1960's origin, military/aviation terms for a semi-skilled or unskilled airport/airbase flight-line worker: typically a baggage handler or aircraft cleaner. Flight crew and skilled mechanics/avionics personnel would NOT typically be considered "ramp tramps".
"Looks like the Port Authority police busted a bunch of ramp tramps at United (Airlines) for stealing baggage again."
by speedstan February 24, 2010
An active customer of prostitutes and escorts who shares information with similar customers, typically on some type of online forum.
by speedstan February 24, 2010
noun: an uneducated, untrained or poorly trained individual placed in a given position in a workplace where he/she is neither technically capable of performing the required task nor performing any useful activity, but to deceive the observer in some manner. Warm bodies are often used to give the appearance of proper staffing, to make an organization look larger than it actually is during visits and official functions, or to fulfill some political agenda in the given organization (i.e. "diversity").
"Frank always uses his relatives as warm bodies whenever a customer visits the shop, to try to give the impression he has a zillion people working for him. He must have learned the warm body trick in the old country, when the Communists would take all 12 cars in town and park them in front of wherever they were filming propaganda movies, to make it look busy..."
by speedstan February 23, 2010
The reasoning process (or lack of it) that causes ghetto folk to screw up their lives, due to their general ignorance and poor or non-existent judgment skills. Ghetto logic usually manifests itself in a series of successively worse decisions that often turn small problems into progressively larger ones, often to the point where solving the problem is beyond the control of anyone. Ghetto person then blames society/police/white folks/whatever for problems.
Ghetto Logic Example #1: Unmarried girl gets pregnant by accident, babydaddy runs off. Girl tries to catch a man to take care of her and her baby by getting pregnant again. Repeat process...
Example #2: Ghetto driver gets traffic ticket, but does not pay it or show up for court. Small fine becomes bigger fine, and arrest warrant is issued for Failure To Appear. Fine is not paid, driver keeps on driving, practicing same behavior that got him/her ticket in the first place. Police try to pull over driver again. Driver fails to yield, leads police on 100 MPH police chase, hits and kills innocent person. $50 infraction becomes no-bail felony manslaughter charge.
Example #2: Ghetto driver gets traffic ticket, but does not pay it or show up for court. Small fine becomes bigger fine, and arrest warrant is issued for Failure To Appear. Fine is not paid, driver keeps on driving, practicing same behavior that got him/her ticket in the first place. Police try to pull over driver again. Driver fails to yield, leads police on 100 MPH police chase, hits and kills innocent person. $50 infraction becomes no-bail felony manslaughter charge.
by speedstan February 23, 2010