Definitions by [e-mail]

the needle 

Lethal Injection

They can give you 25 to life, or they can give you the needle.

the needle by [e-mail] February 22, 2017

yellow bicycle 

Bicycles one can find in select American cities (primarily Austin, TX) that are free for your use whenever you find them. Obviously, they are yellow. You are free to take it and ride it to where you want to go, but not to store it, so that once you get to where you want to go, someone else can take it.

It was gonna be a long walk down to Mag's, but I found a yellow bicycle halfway there.

yellow bicycle by [e-mail] May 10, 2009

Long live 

The English say Long live the king/queen when they die.

The saying can be adopted to express relief or just acknowledgment that something is over.

I took my last final today. Long live 1Ls.

Long live by [e-mail] May 7, 2009

categorical imperative 

A definition with teeth.

Professors will have you study this forever. Here's what you need to know. It means what it sounds like: an imperative (commandment) that you either follow, or you'll be reclassified as immoral.

Kant had his, and many people think his was the only one, but it's not true. A categorical imperative is a definition-based morality. Even the Utilitarians use them.

What will happen if I do something immoral?

You'll have done something immoral.

Oh, it's a categorical imperative.

categorical imperative by [e-mail] May 3, 2009

retirement plan 

A large caliber handgun kept by one who does not want to get old, so that he won't have to.

"What the Hell are you doing with a .50 Desert Eagle that you've never used?"

"That's just my retirement plan."

retirement plan by [e-mail] March 7, 2009

pedagogy complex 

A sexual or romantic preoccupation with the student/teacher relationship. This does not have to be literal, and does not have to be sick. It applies when one is turned on by teaching or learning from another person.

Ling is new to the States and doesn't speak English very well. I have a huge pedagogy complex, and I love teaching her English whenever we go out.

pedagogy complex by [e-mail] March 6, 2009

Get thee to a nunnery 

A statement to a woman that either the world is too harsh for her innocent beauty, or that she innocently brings pain to all the men around her because of her beauty, or ideally, both. The idea is that it would be better if her beauty were left unappreciated for all of her life.

Hamlet: Get thee to a nunnery. Thou wouldst not be a breeder of sinners

Get thee to a nunnery by [e-mail] February 23, 2009