kofi's definitions

I'm all right Jack!

(originally: "Fuck you, Jack, I'm all right!!" - described the bitter dismay of sailors ("jacks") returning home after wartime in the Navy to find themselves not treated as patriots or heroes, but ignored / sneered at by a selfish, complacent, get-ahead society - phrase was subsequently toned down for acceptable general use.)
Attitude of "every man for himself, survival of the fittest, devil take the hindmost", ... but also, that all the possible advantages (however gained), success (however won) and satisfaction (whatever the cost to others) belong to me first!" Narrow-focus, narrow-gauge pseudo-Darwinian selfishness glorified as a sensible philosophy of society and life.

People who find it hard to say "I'm all right Jack!" outright, say to anyone they find no longer useful: "I'm trying to get my life in order right now, so can you respect that, please?!..." (just before they throw themselves laughing into more fun and merry chaos!)

by kofi May 19, 2003

teen

someone between the ages of thirTEEN and nineTEEN (d'ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!)

"Twelve-year-olds are far too young for the teen scene, and don't trust anyone over 20"

by kofi May 19, 2003

samba

Traditional dance and music form of Brazil, it has many possible variations, speeds and hybrids with other dances. Unlike "salsa", the parallel but very different type(s) of traditional dancing in Spanish-speaking Latin America, samba has more hip movement and more of a "shuffle" feel to it, based on its softer ease on (and around) the beat, coming from the polyrhythms of the Afrikan percussion music that traditionally accompanied it. However, see also lambada

Samba still thrives in variation in the music of the new bands especially of the North-East of Brazil, e.g. Nacao Zumbi, Mundo Livre S/A, Mestre Ambrosio.

by kofi May 18, 2003

lambada

Thankfully short-lived joke form of samba, a commercial bastardisation aimed at satisfying overweight, sweaty businessmen who could do no more than limply shuffle their feet about in pursuit of fame, fitness, fashion and pussy.

Lambada was a Brazilian answer to karaoke.

by kofi May 18, 2003

makossa

form of dance music originating in Afrika (Cameroun, to be precise). Noted for its repeated bright-toned picked-guitar figures, chanting-style vocals (often in Douala) and sometimes brass accompaniment, makossa is very upbeat. Sam Fan Thomas is perhaps its biggest name internationally. For better or worse, makossa has become a staple ingredient of "world music".

Have you heard "Samba Makossa" by Chico Science? A new blend of hip Afrikan and cool Brazilian grooves!

by kofi May 16, 2003

Rag Week

(Everything Umbongo says is 80% true and 100% funny, but he could have added:) RAG WEEK is traditionally a part of the British university calendar. It is a fund-raising week for the poor and disadvantaged (not themselves), where students try to palm off funny writings, and (say) push toilets along the main street of town, swallow ugly-looking fluids, or try to set up new Guinness records for bedhopping, for fun and public cash. Errrr, but apart from that usual stuff, they give some of the resulting money to local or larger charitable organisations, such as the SLC (Student Loans Company).

A: So what are you doing for Rag Week?
B: I think I'll just stay in bed.
A: Have you got sponsorship for that?
B: No, but I have got a whoppin hangover.

by kofi May 15, 2003

DMs

(UK): aka Docs. (a pair of) Doc(tor) Marten's, a brand of robust, "sensible" boots that regularly seem to go in and out of fashion with teenagers and particularly students, male and female alike, who want to look down-to-earth.

Alice: Howdy poddner. Say, ah juss dunn gunn got me this hiyer payer of ginn-you-ine DMs! - howja likem?!
Sarah: Why the fake American accent? Cool shoes, by the way!
Alice: Why, aren't they American?

by kofi May 15, 2003