Play on World of Warcraft, a multi-user online RPG known to cause video game addiction. Addiction symptoms include long stretches of uninterrupted game play (12+ hours a day not uncommon), neglect of nutrition and bodily hygeine, social avoidance, job loss, academic failure, financial difficulties, child abuse or neglect, and possible marital separation or divorce.
The US Drug Enforcement Administration should reclassify World of Warcraft as a Schedule I drug (highly addictive, no medicinal benefit).
The US Drug Enforcement Administration should reclassify World of Warcraft as a Schedule I drug (highly addictive, no medicinal benefit).
*Cue Sgt. McGruff anti-drug PSA jingle*
Users are losers and losers are users, so no Warcraft, no World of Warcrack!
Users are losers and losers are users, so no Warcraft, no World of Warcrack!
by poorbrokegradstudent December 09, 2010

Currently, the world's favorite Linux distribution. Ubuntu is a free distribution developed and managed by Canonical. There are many different Ubuntu packages that are customized for PC or server use, different microprocessors, RAM levels, hard drive space, and video. Ubuntu is a derivative of the Debian distribution of Linux. It uses the Debian package system (*.deb, dpkg) and repository system (apt-get, aptitude).
Ubuntu is the most viable open source competitor against Windows and Mac OSX to date. Sure, 31337 #4XX0rZ might compile a Linux kernel from scratch or custom configure their own Debian system. A Ubuntu distribution offers a one-stop installation that can be later customized according to user preferences or used as is. Almost everything can be done through the graphical interface rather than through text commands. Ubuntu can be a non-intimidating graphical GUI for casual computer users or a robust Debian-based distribution for computer nerds.
Ubuntu is the most viable open source competitor against Windows and Mac OSX to date. Sure, 31337 #4XX0rZ might compile a Linux kernel from scratch or custom configure their own Debian system. A Ubuntu distribution offers a one-stop installation that can be later customized according to user preferences or used as is. Almost everything can be done through the graphical interface rather than through text commands. Ubuntu can be a non-intimidating graphical GUI for casual computer users or a robust Debian-based distribution for computer nerds.
I've been programming computers for twenty years. I use Ubuntu on all of my computers because it's easy to install, easy to customize, and has great user forum support.
If you're tired of Windows viruses, crashes, and slowdowns, try Ubuntu. It has the same look and feel of Windows, but is more resistant to buggy programs.
If you're tired of Windows viruses, crashes, and slowdowns, try Ubuntu. It has the same look and feel of Windows, but is more resistant to buggy programs.
by poorbrokegradstudent December 26, 2010

Citizen's Band radio. Public radio service in the 11 meter shortwave band. In North America, the frequencies are 40 channels from 26.965 kHz to 27.405 kHz in 10 kHz steps. AM (amplitude modulation) or SSB (single sideband) modes may be used. A CBer may not use more than 5 watts on AM or 12 watts PEP on SSB, yet the power restrictions are often flouted.
The FCC (US radio regulatory agency) once required licenses for CB. The popularity of CB in the 70s resulted in much illegal operation. The FCC dropped licensing requirements in the early 1980's.
North American CB today is a wasteland of cursing, vulgarity, sexual innuendo, jamming, music broadcasting, and heavily distorted audio due to improper radio modifications. Amateur radio (ham radio) operators have a particular dislike for CBers and CB lingo. CBers sometimes transmit illegally on ham radio frequencies and are often caught by vigilante hams with radio direction finding equipment. Ex-CBers who get ham licenses are often ostracized for using CB lingo on the air. It is a grave insult to call an American ham operator a CBer.
The FCC (US radio regulatory agency) once required licenses for CB. The popularity of CB in the 70s resulted in much illegal operation. The FCC dropped licensing requirements in the early 1980's.
North American CB today is a wasteland of cursing, vulgarity, sexual innuendo, jamming, music broadcasting, and heavily distorted audio due to improper radio modifications. Amateur radio (ham radio) operators have a particular dislike for CBers and CB lingo. CBers sometimes transmit illegally on ham radio frequencies and are often caught by vigilante hams with radio direction finding equipment. Ex-CBers who get ham licenses are often ostracized for using CB lingo on the air. It is a grave insult to call an American ham operator a CBer.
Heard on CB radio channel 14: (shouting, incomprehensibly distorted audio) "Roger roger breaker breaker 14 hear my radidio come on come on"
Ham 1: "Did you hear that new ham on the repeater? He was using CB lingo like 'what's your 20?'"
Ham 2: "Yeah, I'll have to pull him aside at the next hamfest and talk to him about it."
Ham 1: "Did you hear that new ham on the repeater? He was using CB lingo like 'what's your 20?'"
Ham 2: "Yeah, I'll have to pull him aside at the next hamfest and talk to him about it."
by poorbrokegradstudent August 23, 2010

Before 15 February 1971, the British pound was divided this way:
12d (pence) = 1s (shilling)
20s = one pound.
"penny" is the singular of "pence", as today. There were 240 pennies in a pound.
Why 'd'? One penny (1d) was formally called a 'denarius' after the Roman coin. This term was never used in popular language.
Sums below one pound (and sometimes over) were written s/d, such as 12/6 (said: twelve and six) or 5/- (said: five shillings).
There were a whole slew of interesting coins, including:
1/4d = farthing (from Anglo-Saxon, 'a fourth')
1/2d = ha'penny (half a penny)
3d = thruppence (a fourth of a shilling)
6d = sixpence (half a shilling)
2s = florin ("two bob bit"). A tenth of a pound.
2/6 = half crown ("two and six"). An eighth of a pound.
At the time of conversion, one shilling equaled 5p and one florin (two shillings) equaled 10p. A shilling in 1970 had approximately the value of 84p or $1.25 today.
The old pounds, shillings, pence system was a remnant of the early Middle Ages and Charlemagne! Continental Europe was all decimal coinage by the end of the 19th century. Tradition-bound Britain soldiered on until the beginning of the 70s.
12d (pence) = 1s (shilling)
20s = one pound.
"penny" is the singular of "pence", as today. There were 240 pennies in a pound.
Why 'd'? One penny (1d) was formally called a 'denarius' after the Roman coin. This term was never used in popular language.
Sums below one pound (and sometimes over) were written s/d, such as 12/6 (said: twelve and six) or 5/- (said: five shillings).
There were a whole slew of interesting coins, including:
1/4d = farthing (from Anglo-Saxon, 'a fourth')
1/2d = ha'penny (half a penny)
3d = thruppence (a fourth of a shilling)
6d = sixpence (half a shilling)
2s = florin ("two bob bit"). A tenth of a pound.
2/6 = half crown ("two and six"). An eighth of a pound.
At the time of conversion, one shilling equaled 5p and one florin (two shillings) equaled 10p. A shilling in 1970 had approximately the value of 84p or $1.25 today.
The old pounds, shillings, pence system was a remnant of the early Middle Ages and Charlemagne! Continental Europe was all decimal coinage by the end of the 19th century. Tradition-bound Britain soldiered on until the beginning of the 70s.
Shopkeeper, 1965: The Help! album costs thirty-two and six.
American in London, 1955: the British pound is so confusing! Better just put the coins on my palm and have the shopkeeper take the right amount. Hope I don't get swindled.
American in London, 1955: the British pound is so confusing! Better just put the coins on my palm and have the shopkeeper take the right amount. Hope I don't get swindled.
by poorbrokegradstudent August 21, 2010

Amateur radio (ham radio) morse code abbreviation for wife.
Hams call any (assumed) single female ham radio operator a YL or "young lady". A ham radio operator's wife is often called an XYL or "ex-young lady" even if she is a ham. Male operators are always called OM or "old man". There is an obvious double standard for women.
It's impossible to tell whether a person sending morse code is a man or a woman. Still, it was the custom for a long time to greet any operator on morse code as OM. Thankfully that custom is dying out. Now no gender assumption is made.
Some women ham radio operators find XYL offensive. These operators prefer that hams refer to all women as YLs. The term XYL is still used frequently on the air however. Perhaps this is because the vast majority of ham radio operators are men and apathetic about the feelings of women operators.
I agree with women operators that advocate for the universal use of YL especially since it is no longer customary to greet every ham on morse with OM. The universal use of YL also removes a double standard.
Hams call any (assumed) single female ham radio operator a YL or "young lady". A ham radio operator's wife is often called an XYL or "ex-young lady" even if she is a ham. Male operators are always called OM or "old man". There is an obvious double standard for women.
It's impossible to tell whether a person sending morse code is a man or a woman. Still, it was the custom for a long time to greet any operator on morse code as OM. Thankfully that custom is dying out. Now no gender assumption is made.
Some women ham radio operators find XYL offensive. These operators prefer that hams refer to all women as YLs. The term XYL is still used frequently on the air however. Perhaps this is because the vast majority of ham radio operators are men and apathetic about the feelings of women operators.
I agree with women operators that advocate for the universal use of YL especially since it is no longer customary to greet every ham on morse with OM. The universal use of YL also removes a double standard.
by poorbrokegradstudent September 02, 2010

To take control of a term that has a pejorative context. queer, dyke, and queen are examples of words that have been reclaimed by the LGBT community. Taking control of a slur removes the ability of bigots to use that term in a hurtful manner. Reclaiming empowers marginalized communities.
NOTE: Do not use reclaimed words that are not part of your sexual, racial, or ethnic self-identification. For example: do not use the n word or variant words to describe yourself if you're not part of the African American community. Or, don't use words like fag or faggot if you are not a gay man. Reclamation is only for those people who have historically suffered because of the word in question. Outsiders, even sympathetic outsiders, should not use reclaimed words casually.
Even if you are part of a community that uses reclaimed terms, be selective in how you use them. Don't use reclaimed terms to start a fight where you and or others might be physically or verbally attacked. Use discretion.
NOTE: Do not use reclaimed words that are not part of your sexual, racial, or ethnic self-identification. For example: do not use the n word or variant words to describe yourself if you're not part of the African American community. Or, don't use words like fag or faggot if you are not a gay man. Reclamation is only for those people who have historically suffered because of the word in question. Outsiders, even sympathetic outsiders, should not use reclaimed words casually.
Even if you are part of a community that uses reclaimed terms, be selective in how you use them. Don't use reclaimed terms to start a fight where you and or others might be physically or verbally attacked. Use discretion.
When I encounter Christian fundamentalists who try to put me down for being gay, I say that 'I am a faggot'. I want to reclaim the word from haters to they can't use it to hurt others.
by poorbrokegradstudent July 25, 2010
