23 definitions by eighthofseven
Intentional corruption of the term "fly by wire", i.e. an aircraft who's flight control system has no physical link between the pilot's controls and the external control surfaces, relying instead on computers. A complex and malfunction-prone system, leading to a certain background amount of low-level panic amongst those required to fly such aircraft, either as crew or passengers.
by eighthofseven October 23, 2007
A firearm issued for personal use by a soldier, typically an assault rifle for enlisted personnel or on occasion a pistol for comissioned officers.
by eighthofseven October 26, 2007
1. A fictional device from the film "This Island Earth" (1955, q.v.) which is an extremely powerful and flexible (if somewhat bulky)combined communications, computation and weapons system.
2. By derivation, any desireable new gadget with lots of cool features, for example a multifunction colour printer/scanner/copier, often the property of another, resulting in repeated violations of the Tenth Commandment ("thou shalt not covet ....").
3. Any piece of technical equipment beyond the understanding of Managers, e.g. pencil sharpener, doorknob, chair, cup.
4. The large-scale version of a "widget" or "thingie", which are usually quite small.
2. By derivation, any desireable new gadget with lots of cool features, for example a multifunction colour printer/scanner/copier, often the property of another, resulting in repeated violations of the Tenth Commandment ("thou shalt not covet ....").
3. Any piece of technical equipment beyond the understanding of Managers, e.g. pencil sharpener, doorknob, chair, cup.
4. The large-scale version of a "widget" or "thingie", which are usually quite small.
by eighthofseven October 23, 2007
The consequence of a really, really bad vehicle accident, in which the occupant(s) of the vehicle(s) are converted to a substance resembling jam, which is then distributed over a considerable area.
"There was a crash on the southbound side of the expressway, some poor guy on a bike ended up as humanberry jam spread acoss three lanes....."
by eighthofseven November 27, 2007
An emergency ambulance, paramedic vehicle, or other medical assistance vehicle. Especially applicable when said vehicle has flashing lights on and sirens sounding. The passing of a Blood Wagon in full cry is usually very bad news for someone.
"Shit, I got blue flashing lights on my tail !"
"Chill out, it's just a blood wagon".
"Sorry I'm late - there was a crash on the way here, must have been nasty 'cos there were a couple of blood wagons there."
"Chill out, it's just a blood wagon".
"Sorry I'm late - there was a crash on the way here, must have been nasty 'cos there were a couple of blood wagons there."
by eighthofseven October 23, 2007
The "jesus bolts" are the small, high-tensile bolts that attach the rotor pitch control push rods to the swash plateon a helicopter.
If one of these bolts fails, then one of the 'copter's rotors will be decoupled from the cyclic/collective pitch control, which is generally thought of as a Bad Thing; they are so called because if you've led a good life, afther the failure Jesus is the next person you meet.
See also zero survivability incident
If one of these bolts fails, then one of the 'copter's rotors will be decoupled from the cyclic/collective pitch control, which is generally thought of as a Bad Thing; they are so called because if you've led a good life, afther the failure Jesus is the next person you meet.
See also zero survivability incident
Pilot: "Is this thing good to go ?"
Engineer: "Yeah, we even gave you new Jesus Bolts !"
Pilot: "Gee, thanks."
Engineer: "Yeah, we even gave you new Jesus Bolts !"
Pilot: "Gee, thanks."
by eighthofseven August 13, 2007
1. The special equipment unit in the James Bond novels and films by Ian Fleming. They provide all manner of outlandish gadgets, often of a bizarre and highly destructive nature.
The unit's head is known as "Q" and was portrayed in many of the films by actor Desmond Llewelyn (2nd film to the 19th).
2. By inference, a specialised higly technical department within a much larger organisation, often staffed by geeks whose work is little understood but none the less admired and respected by other employees.
Also known as "Q Section"
The unit's head is known as "Q" and was portrayed in many of the films by actor Desmond Llewelyn (2nd film to the 19th).
2. By inference, a specialised higly technical department within a much larger organisation, often staffed by geeks whose work is little understood but none the less admired and respected by other employees.
Also known as "Q Section"
"Can you come to the meeting ?"
"Yeah... but I'll be a little late, I have to go up to Q Branch and get them to look at my GPS, it's playing up."
"Yeah... but I'll be a little late, I have to go up to Q Branch and get them to look at my GPS, it's playing up."
by eighthofseven October 23, 2007