Definitions by poorbrokegradstudent
CB Radio
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."
CB Radio by poorbrokegradstudent August 23, 2010
British Pound
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.
British Pound by poorbrokegradstudent August 21, 2010
psychic friends network
Ubiquitous 1990's late night TV infomercial phenomenon. PSN was a 1 900 number psychic service that charged astronomical per minute charges. Instead of merely hiring an actor to pose as a psychic and hawk services directly to a camera (see Miss Cleo), PSN employed past their prime entertainment personalities to "host" a casual roundtable discussion that persistently extolled the proficiency of the network psychics. PSN also used phone testimonials from shills to enhance a not so subtle peer pressure to dial the phone.
PSN's infomercial model proved very successful. Like Home Shopping Network and QVC, the creation of an artificial peer group to sell almost anything attracted many people with few social outlets.
PSN's infomercial model proved very successful. Like Home Shopping Network and QVC, the creation of an artificial peer group to sell almost anything attracted many people with few social outlets.
Back in 1993, Melvyn's mom racked up $10,000 in phone bills from watching Psychic Friends Network late at night. After the auto accident, she had nothing to do but lie in her full body cast and endlessly call for her horoscope.
psychic friends network by poorbrokegradstudent August 20, 2010
Francisco Franco
Brutal Spanish dictator (1947-1975) that ran a fascist nightmare police state. Also known as Generalissimo or El Caduillo (The Leader). Admirer of Hitler and Mussolini.
Also: Darling of the hyper-right Catholic Traditionalist or Integrist set. Franco was a great patron of the Roman Catholic Church. Some extreme fundamentalist Catholics candy coat Franco's regime as a Catholic monarchical paradise on earth, when in fact it was just another example of a soul and life crushing totalitarian state.
Also: Darling of the hyper-right Catholic Traditionalist or Integrist set. Franco was a great patron of the Roman Catholic Church. Some extreme fundamentalist Catholics candy coat Franco's regime as a Catholic monarchical paradise on earth, when in fact it was just another example of a soul and life crushing totalitarian state.
Catholic fundie: Generalissimo Francisco Franco's reign was a great example of a Catholic Monarchy! Democracy is selfish since most people vote for their depraved self-interests. A benevolent Catholic king will create a moral state!
Sane agnostic: (sarcasm) Yeah! A murderous secret police, extreme censorship, death camps, arbitrary imprisonment and execution, and a megalomaniacal despot! Yep, sure beats free speech, freedom of religious assembly, and due process any day!
Sane agnostic: (sarcasm) Yeah! A murderous secret police, extreme censorship, death camps, arbitrary imprisonment and execution, and a megalomaniacal despot! Yep, sure beats free speech, freedom of religious assembly, and due process any day!
Francisco Franco by poorbrokegradstudent August 15, 2010
reclaim
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.
reclaim by poorbrokegradstudent July 25, 2010
mixed orientation marriage
A marriage of a man and a woman where one spouse is heterosexual and one spouse is homosexual.
Often the homosexual marries the heterosexual in an attempt to "cure" their sexual attraction to the same sex. Religion, family expectations, and a desire to have children often influence a homosexual person's decision to wed a person of the opposite sex.
I use the term "homosexual" and not LGB because many same-sex attracted people that marry a person of the opposite sex do not self-identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Many also prefer to stay in the closet.
Many, but not all, of these marriages end in severe marital conflict, separation, or divorce.
Often the homosexual marries the heterosexual in an attempt to "cure" their sexual attraction to the same sex. Religion, family expectations, and a desire to have children often influence a homosexual person's decision to wed a person of the opposite sex.
I use the term "homosexual" and not LGB because many same-sex attracted people that marry a person of the opposite sex do not self-identify as gay, lesbian, or bisexual. Many also prefer to stay in the closet.
Many, but not all, of these marriages end in severe marital conflict, separation, or divorce.
Sandy suspected that Steve was gay for a long time, but couldn't tell for sure until she found his Manhunt account on the family computer. Now she's certainly in a mixed orientation marriage. Sandy's hired a lawyer without Steve's knowledge.
mixed orientation marriage by poorbrokegradstudent July 23, 2010