Jul 26 Word of the Day
Noun: a friend who is usually only called upon by a friend when a more primary/prominent friend is unavailable.
Taken from the term “second string” in an athletic competition situation. In football, if the star quarterback gets injured during a play, the second string is called off the bench to replace him/her. A “Second String Friend” is essentially benched until needed, if ever.
Synonyms: Plan B, Second Choice, Secondary Friend, Benched Until Needed
Taken from the term “second string” in an athletic competition situation. In football, if the star quarterback gets injured during a play, the second string is called off the bench to replace him/her. A “Second String Friend” is essentially benched until needed, if ever.
Synonyms: Plan B, Second Choice, Secondary Friend, Benched Until Needed
I got a call from X the other night. She had an extra ticket to a concert she bought for a friend, but they couldn’t make it so she called me to ask if I wanted to go because I am her Second String Friend.
by Deus-ex-machina August 26, 2020
2
1. International Business Machines
2. Big Blue
The creators of the BIOS system most computers are based around. Unfortunately arrogant enough to publish their BIOS code in a context akin to saying, "Look, this is how it's done. If you do it in a similar way we'll know where you got it from."
Phoenix Technologies where the first to successfully cheat the challenge; one team of scientists simply worked directly on the IBM BIOS and made an exhaustive table of commands and responses, another team who had no knowledge of IBMs existing code were given the table to write a new BIOS.
This is how IBM lost their monopoly on PC design, how the first buyers of Phoenix BIOS, Compaq placed themselves on the market, and generally a nice example of David and Goliath.
2. Big Blue
The creators of the BIOS system most computers are based around. Unfortunately arrogant enough to publish their BIOS code in a context akin to saying, "Look, this is how it's done. If you do it in a similar way we'll know where you got it from."
Phoenix Technologies where the first to successfully cheat the challenge; one team of scientists simply worked directly on the IBM BIOS and made an exhaustive table of commands and responses, another team who had no knowledge of IBMs existing code were given the table to write a new BIOS.
This is how IBM lost their monopoly on PC design, how the first buyers of Phoenix BIOS, Compaq placed themselves on the market, and generally a nice example of David and Goliath.
The IBM BIOS standard becoming ripped off has both advanced compatibility and held back the market at once, but at least it's basically open-source.
by dj_monged August 16, 2004
4
International Business Machines
I've Been Misled
Idiots Become Managers
I've Been Misinformed
I'm Being Mocked
I've Been Misled
Idiots Become Managers
I've Been Misinformed
I'm Being Mocked
"I've switched jobs 5 times since I started working for IBM, and now I have experience in food service, retail, water treatment and banking. Sadly, I haven't touched a PC in so long, I forgot what they look like."
by Plae Doe September 11, 2002
6
The only company besides Apple that ever made a decent computer you could buy in a retail store. Now relegated to online sales due to the influx of cheaply made, cheaply priced machines in the retail sector.
by corvus brachyrhynchos July 25, 2003