gooberliberation's definitions

CPM

Acronym for "College Preperatory Mathematics." A non functional method for teaching middle and high school level math.

Instead of actual textbooks, CPM classes use cheap paperbound workbooks that have absolutely nothing useful in them. While real textbooks include instructions, tables, equations, and examples that make it possible to learn by book alone, CPM books usually have none. CPM also places emphasis on (barely) supervised groupwork in the hopes that it helps students visualize mathematical concepts. Actually, all it does is destroy a student's ability to work on his/her own.

Teachers of such classes assume that CPM workbooks actually are textbooks and so don't really bother instructing students.

I have to take remedial classes in college. Thank you, CPM!

by gooberliberation March 5, 2006

hydroscillator

An automobile component that can be found in virtually every car, foreign or domestic. Invented by Mortimer Ford(Henry Ford's illegitimate half brother or something), the hydroscillator's only known function is to allow vehicles to drive themselves in a semi-sentient manner. Although hydroscillator design varies, they are usually a fist-sized cylindrical device with two wires sticking out.

Featured on the ABC network expose' "When Cars Attack!"

Mechanic: "Well see here's your problem; your blinker fluid lines burst and shorted out the hydroscillator. While I was checking, I saw that your muffler bearings and flux capacitor needed replacing."

by gooberliberation April 10, 2007

bose

A fancy schmancy audio company. Their headphones are pretty sweet and the sound cancelling tech is top nontch. But, for some reason, they seem to market primarily to the elderly. As a result, their products such as their Wave-Audio(radios with tubes-n-shit in them) tend to have heavily simplified controls, bland styling and automatic equalizer settings that only sound good with classical music. Despite having some good ideas Bose also is technologically conservative; with products not being MP3-capable years after everyone else is. Lasers used in CD players are also weak and cannot read through scratches that others could. Overpriced? Probably.

Those Bose wave music systems sound like shit when trying to play anything that uses "unnatural instruments" like synthesizers and electric guitars. That rules out like 75% of popular music. Wave radios sound good, but they don't sound 500 dollar-good. Mabye like 80 dollar good.

by gooberliberation January 1, 2006

CSI effect

The CSI effect is a phenomenon that now frustrates the american legal system. Prospective jurors are beginning to have unrealistic expectations of forensic technique and expect airtight cases with slam-dunk convictions. While television makes things look easy(as always), the fact is, that forensic science involves excruciatingly long procedures(DNA testing takes days/weeks, not hours to do) and don't always produce conclusive results. Experts blame the popularity of the the television shows Law and Order and CSI(hence the name). The CSI effect also applies to criminals who attempt to cover up their crimes by countering techniques seen on television, such as shaving off body hair to prevent leaving DNA.

A possible sign of the CSI effect: American universities are experiencing a sharp increase in students studying forensic science. However, this may be as much due to the publicity of the OJ Simpson and Scott Peterson murder trials

by gooberliberation January 2, 2006

Toyota

Dull but reliable Japanese Buicks.

Here's a fun game. Drive a silver Toyota Corolla or Camry to a shopping mall, and have a friend move it to a different parking spot. Then try finding it.

Mabye ricers who trick out their family toyotas are on to something. You need altezza style taillights and huge wings just to tell the damned things apart!

by gooberliberation March 18, 2006

737

A neat little airliner made by boeing that is 9.55 times better looking than anything airbus has ever made(its a scientific fact). That said, the B-737 is the most produced airliner ever, with nearly 5000 built so far(and over a thousand on order). While the basic design dates back to the late 1960s, the 737 has been continuously built in dozens of variants and upgrades. Recently(2005), the 737 was selected as the basis for the US navy's new P-8 patrol plane(also the australian millitary's wedgetail). The Boeing Y1 is expected to be its eventual successor.

The Airbus A320 is a gameboy with wings compared to the 737.

by gooberliberation January 5, 2006

JMN

Among scale modeling hobbyists, JMN is an acronym for Joyless Modeling Nazi(sometimes Zealot, making JMZ). JMNs are too obsessed with exact details and accuracy to actually enjoy their hobby. As a result, they are usually unhappy, arrogant, elitist, judgemental, and seldom actually finish any models. The term was coined among aircraft modelers, but the term applies to other genres, particularly Armor and Sci-Fi modeling. Although certain online forums are known for being JMN hangouts, they can be anywhere.

Things a JMN would obsess over.
Rivet-counting.
Luftwaffe(RLM) paint-matching.
Messerschmitt Me 109 vs Bf 109.
Expensive aftermarket add-ons for kits.
F-16 Viper Block number.
Deficiencies in commercially available models.
Details that would be impossible to see in miniature, such as a pilot's eyebrows.

by gooberliberation December 20, 2005