1. A building or military installation that is never intended to be used, but which must be constructed anyway for political reasons.
2. A public space that planners know will never be occupied or properly used. It gets built anyway to satisfy a planning commission or zoning board.
3. The act of constructing something useless and pointless because it is demanded by an overall "plan."
2. A public space that planners know will never be occupied or properly used. It gets built anyway to satisfy a planning commission or zoning board.
3. The act of constructing something useless and pointless because it is demanded by an overall "plan."
"Did you hear about those Pre-Abandoned schools in Iraq? They built them out in the desert without any electricity or air conditioning. No one will ever use them, but at least they look good on paper."
by Peter Kobs September 22, 2009
1. A public relations strategy frequently used by government agencies, corporations and law enforcement officials. It means "feed them manure and keep them in the dark."
The goal is to delay any public disclosure of information as long as possible by releasing half-truths, distortions and useless information to the media.
Origin of the Metaphor: Farmers use manure, millet and recycled wood chips to grow mushrooms in dark, steamy rooms. Hence, "feed them manure and keep them in the dark."
The goal is to delay any public disclosure of information as long as possible by releasing half-truths, distortions and useless information to the media.
Origin of the Metaphor: Farmers use manure, millet and recycled wood chips to grow mushrooms in dark, steamy rooms. Hence, "feed them manure and keep them in the dark."
Detective: "That reporter from the News-Tribune keeps calling me about our runaway child case. What should I do?"
Police Chief: "Try the Mushroom Method. He'll lose interest after a few days and move on to something else. I've seen it work a million times."
Police Chief: "Try the Mushroom Method. He'll lose interest after a few days and move on to something else. I've seen it work a million times."
by Peter Kobs July 18, 2010
Someone who sells "certainty" on a particular issue to gain money or power -- usually a politician, pundit or preacher. Certainty Pimps don't like shades of gray because they force people to think for themselves.
Did you see that Certainty Pimp on TV? He says the recent cold snap is proof that global warming is a complete hoax.
by Peter Kobs January 17, 2009
Many people have a stash of old keys in a drawer or cabinet for "future use." Some keys have been there so long that you no longer remember what they're for. A bike lock? An old car? A cabinet at work? These are Orphan Keys.
"Honey, can we get rid of those stupid Orphan Keys in the strong box?"
"Absolutely not! One of them might open that safe we buried in the back yard during the Nixon administration...if we can find it."
"Absolutely not! One of them might open that safe we buried in the back yard during the Nixon administration...if we can find it."
by Peter Kobs August 25, 2009
1. A technically bankrupt company that is kept alive with large infusions of government money for the sake of "stability" in the U.S. financial system. 2. A large financial company with negative net worth that continues to operate, despite having no clear path to solvency. 3. The UnDead of Wall Street.
"AIG is the premier example of a zombie company -- kept alive only by $120 billion in federal bailout money. Apparently, it's considered too large to fail."
by Peter Kobs March 09, 2009
1. A politician who openly heckles, threatens or attacks the President of the United States on the House Floor during a joint session of Congress.
2. Any person who brazenly violates the code of civility and decorum of the U.S. House of Representatives, especially elected officials.
3. Rep. Joe Brown of South Carolina, who yelled "You lie!" at our first African-American President during his speech on health care to Congress on Sept. 9, 2009. (Brown's contention that the proposed health care reform bill would somehow insure illegal aliens was later deemed false on both FactCheck.org and Politifact.org.)
2. Any person who brazenly violates the code of civility and decorum of the U.S. House of Representatives, especially elected officials.
3. Rep. Joe Brown of South Carolina, who yelled "You lie!" at our first African-American President during his speech on health care to Congress on Sept. 9, 2009. (Brown's contention that the proposed health care reform bill would somehow insure illegal aliens was later deemed false on both FactCheck.org and Politifact.org.)
"Did you ever meet Joe Brown? He's that infamous House Heckler who called Obama a liar on the floor of Congress during a speech by the President."
by Peter Kobs September 10, 2009
1. A scientific way to calculate the true costs of massive oil spills, such as the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico.
Spillonomics was conceived shortly after the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Sadly, it has become a major growth industry in the last 21 years.
Unlike other methods favored by the petroleum industry, Spillonomics takes into account both short-term clean-up costs AND long-term costs related to marine ecosystems, tourism, fishing, coastal employment, real estate values and water quality.
2. Dick Cheney's latest nightmare.
Spillonomics was conceived shortly after the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Prince William Sound, Alaska. Sadly, it has become a major growth industry in the last 21 years.
Unlike other methods favored by the petroleum industry, Spillonomics takes into account both short-term clean-up costs AND long-term costs related to marine ecosystems, tourism, fishing, coastal employment, real estate values and water quality.
2. Dick Cheney's latest nightmare.
by Peter Kobs June 01, 2010