ekolis's definitions

'Oumuamua

An interstellar object detected entering the solar system. No one knows for sure what it is - asteroid? comet? derelict alien spaceship? The name is Hawaiian for "scout", since it's the first interstellar object ever detected

I wonder if 'Oumuamua is an alien spaceship? Or is it just a comet?

by ekolis February 12, 2019

HP bucket

In a game, something that takes a lot of damage, then suffers Critical Existence Failure, without gradually losing functionality as it takes damage.

"Characters in D&D are such HP buckets! Play a real RPG that has a proper wound system!"

by ekolis June 27, 2013

porch room

An enclosed patio attached to a house.

Don't let the dog out in the yard; it's raining. Just let him play in the porch room.

by ekolis November 3, 2016

alligator in the cargo bay

A task that was taken on and solved out of a desire to take initiative at work. This is a reference to an episode of The Orville in which Captain Ed Mercer asks Bortus what he has been working on, and Bortus replies that there is an alligator in the cargo bay, but he has crushed it with a chair.

Did I fix the SQL injection vulnerability? Of course, it's an alligator in the cargo bay!

by ekolis January 30, 2020

Star Fox boss

A vehicle, especially a spaceship, that travels faster in reverse than going forward, just like any of the ever-retreating bosses from the Star Fox games.

Klingon honor demands that you not fight like a Star Fox boss!

by ekolis December 8, 2013

Tetrising

The art of fitting multiple large objects into a small space, or maneuvering a single object around a tight corner or through a narrow doorway. Can also be applied to numbers that have to total to less than some limit.

My dad is a master of Tetrising. No matter how many frozen goods he buys at the grocery store, he can always find a way to fit them all into the freezer.

Help! I need to fit this 38 inch couch through my 30 inch apartment doorway! Anyone good at Tetrising?

OK, so I have $1500 and I need to pay all these bills totaling $2000... No amount of Tetrising is going to help me here!

So if I can keep my character's encumbrance under 35%, I get a mana regeneration boost... Let's see, I'm at 32% now, if I drop the helm of intelligence, I could equip the bracers of defense against cold... That would put me at 34%, so I should be good... Gah! All this Tetrising of stats is driving me crazy! Why can't they implement a sliding scale for this silly bonus so I don't have to worry about hard limits?!

by ekolis October 17, 2020

mullet lawn

A lawn which is well cared for on the front side of the house, but in disarray on the back, much like a mullet - "business in the front, party in the back".

The Hendersons have such a mullet lawn. It's just like their marriage - they're always putting on their best face for the neighborhood, but deep down, they have issues...

by ekolis August 1, 2014