Andy's definitions

Who killed Farhad Usmanov?

This strangely unqualified question has appeared in sticker, placard and graffiti form all over the place, prompting many to wonder.

The correct answer is Islam Karimov, president of Uzbekistan. Farhad Usmanov is a human rights cause celebre in Uzbekistan because his is the most blatant and the most widely protested of many cases of murder of political opponents by the Uzbek regime.

The stickers etc. seem to be the handiwork of the Muslim fundamentalist group Hizb-ut Tahrir, an insidious organisation committed to human rights violations of other kinds (against Jews, gays, women, etc.), but who object to attacks on fellow Islamists and who therefore have a lot of gripes with the Uzbek government. This government is particularly keen on killing Islamists because they happen to be the main opposition force in the country. Farhad was the son of a cleric.

seen on lamp-posts, unattended walls, etc. for months

by Andy April 20, 2004

goblinoid

Something which resembles a goblin or is of the same genus of creatures as goblins (including a goblin itself) - e.g. orcs, hobgoblins.

Can be used as noun or adjective.

There's some type of goblinoid creature in the corner of the group.

David Blunkett looks like some kind of goblionoid.

by Andy May 27, 2004

Hippogriff

A type of monster which appears in some fantasy games such as Dungeons and Dragons and Warhammer. It is a large creature with the body of a horse, the head of an eagle and the wings of a griffon.

The host of the High Elves hode forth, led by a mighty mage on a Hippogriff mount.

by Andy April 28, 2004

Nauglamir

Necklace given by the dwarves to Finrod in Tolkien's book, The Silmarillion. It was the most beautiful of all the treasures of Nargothrond. The name means "dwarf-jewel" in elvish.

It was kept by Glaurung after the sack of Nargothrond, and later retrieved from the ruins by Hurin, who fought and slew Mim at the gates. He then gave it to Elwe of Doriath for unspecified reasons. Elwe hired dwarves to have the Silmaril he had been given by Beren set into it, but the dwarves, overwhelmed with the beauty of the item, demanded it back, Silmaril and all. Elwe refused and they slew him, setting off a war in which Menegroth was sacked, Doriath destroyed and the dwarves mostly slaughtered.

It was retrieved by Elwing and carried into the west along with the Silmaril.

The name comes from Naugrim, which means dwarves in Sindarin.

by Andy May 23, 2004

Rawlsian

Someone who adheres to the political philosophy of John Rawls. See also wanker.

Joshua Cohen is a Rawlsian.

by Andy April 17, 2004

frell

swear-word invented for use in the Farscape series - usually as an adjective, "frelling".

I can't get the frelling spaceship to take off cos there's a frelling alien glued to the frelling ignition pipeline and because of this the frelling engine room is a total pile of frell.

by Andy April 17, 2004

Vinyamar

Fortress-city in Beleriand, mentioned in Tolkien's work The Silmarillion. It was located in the Falas and was part of the realm of Cirdan. Like Eglarest, it became a haven for elves fleeing after the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, until it was successfully besieged and sacked by Morgoth's forces. Surviving elves fled to Balar.

It is a coastal city with a mighty tower.

by Andy May 11, 2004