lampbane

lampbane commented on the word action figure

As a doll is an object representing a human being, most action figures are technically dolls. The name 'action figure' was coined by Hasbro in 1964 to market G.I. Joe figures to boys, who would not play with 'dolls' since those were associated with girls.

For tariff purposes action figures are classified as dolls. Because the tariff for dolls is higher than the tariff for toys, Toy Biz brought a case before the U.S. Court of International Trade, arguing that their superhero action figures represented "non-human creatures" and thus were not dolls. The court found in their favor, saying that "the action figure playthings at issue here are not properly classifiable as “dolls�? under the HTSUS by virtue of various non-human characteristics they exhibit" (Toy Biz v. United States, 2003).

The irony is that some of the figures in the ruling included the X-Men, who are well known (on both the comics page and silver screen) for asserting their humanity in the face of bigotry from 'normal' humans.

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word daruma

A Japanese wish doll with blank white eyes. While thinking of a wish, the owner colors in one of the eyes (usually the right eye). When the wish is filled, the other eye should be filled in.

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word realdoll

A life-size sex doll with a poseable PVC skeleton, steel joints, and silicone flesh.

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word dresden doll

A doll with a body made of fabric and a head made of porcelain, but the porcelain is not dipped in glaze before firing.

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word akuaba

A wooden ritual fertility doll from Ghana.

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word hakata ningy�?

Traditional Japanese clay doll.

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word foreman

The surname assumed by the Doctor's granddaughter Susan, taken from the owner of the junkyard where they had parked the TARDIS while Susan attended school (Doctor Who).

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word blowbo

A Blowjob From A Hobo. (Things You Can Buy At 7-11 In The Middle of The Night)

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word transmat

Short for transmitter of matter or matter transmitter.

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word gallifrey

Home planet of all time lords, including the Doctor, on Doctor Who.

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word smith

The surname of two of the Doctor's companions on Doctor Who: Sarah Jane Smith and Mickey Smith.

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word unit

A military organization in Doctor Who. Acronym for either the United Nations Intelligence Taskforce or the UNified Intelligence Taskforce.

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word doctor who

Here you go. However, I haven't included the actual phrase 'Doctor Who' in the list since that's not actually his name!

September 9, 2008

lampbane commented on the word petard

The more I see this word on the front page, the more I think of that episode of Family Guy where Peter is legally declared retarded (their words, not mine). The title of the episode is "Petarded."

September 8, 2008

lampbane commented on the word doki doki

Japanese onomatopoeia for a beating heart.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word criterium

A bike race held on a short course.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word meat

The unit of currency for the Kingdom of Loathing MMORPG.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word infamy

The unit of currency in the City of Villains MMORPG.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word influence

The unit of currency for the City of Heroes MMORPG.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word mudflation

A problem in massively multiplayer online games, when a more recently acquired or introduced item makes an existing item lose significant value.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word simoleon

The unit of currency in the SimCity and Sims games (including The Sims Online). The symbol for a simoleon is §.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word neopoint

The unit of currency for the Neopets website.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word qq coin

The unit currency for the Tencent QQ instant messaging program in China. The program is so popular that many online stores and gaming sites now accept the QQ coin for real-world goods, raising the concern of the People's Bank of China.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word mmorpg

Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word zeny

The unit of currency for the Ragnarok Online MMORPG.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word linden

The unit of currency for the virtual world of Second Life (also called the Linden dollar).

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word adena

The unit of currency for the Lineage MMORPG series.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word gil

The unit of currency in several Final Fantasy games, including the MMORPG Final Fantasy XI.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word isk

The unit of currency for the EVE Online MMORPG, short for "interstellar kredit."

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word yen

¥ or 円

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word gashapon

Capsule toys. Also known as gachapon or gacha.

Usually the toys are small or disassembled figurines, cell phone charms, or key chains. The toys are each kept inside a small plastic bubble, and one random capsule will be dropped out of the machine after the consumer inserts the right amount of money and turns the knob all the way around (like a gumball machine). Most gashapon cost ¥100.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word filing

The act of putting files away, or paperwork that has been submitted to a government institution (such as a tax return or bankruptcy).

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word uppity

As Stephen Colbert pointed out last night, this is the same Congressman who pushed to have the Ten Commandments displayed in state courthouses and even in the House and Senate, but when asked by Colbert to list the Commandments (on the Better Know a District segment), he could name only three.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word ramune

A carbonated soft drink from Japan. Packaged in a Codd-neck bottle, it is sealed by a glass marble held in place by the carbon dioxide in the beverage. Using the included plastic plug, the drinker pops the marble into the bottle, where it is held in place by two glass nubs inside the bottle's neck.

The actual flavor of ramune is a sort of mild and sweet lemon-lime flavor.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word shokugan

Oh, sorry! I guess it's one of those situations where something is so familiar to you that you forget it's still a foreign concept to others.

In Japan you can buy little toys (usually figures or miniatures) that come randomly assorted in sealed cardboard boxes (contrast with gashapon, which are capsule toys randomly distributed by the machine). The boxes are completely opaque, so you have no idea which one is inside when you pick up the box (though you can always try to shake the container and take a guess based on the sound it makes and how much the package weighs).

These toys always come with a small piece of candy inside the box. Small means small here - something like a single piece of gum or a piece of ramune candy (which is kind of chalky but sweet). The quality is often poor, similar to the cardboard-like piece of bubble gum you used to get with baseball/trading cards.

In the United States the gum actually came first. Topps included a small card with a baseball player on it as a premium, and eventually it came to be that people were buying the packages for the card, not the gum. I believe they phased the gum out completely by the mid-90's.

It might seem that shokugan might be the same principle, where the toy eventually just became more important than the candy inside. But why keep up the pretense and still include the candy?

To exploit a small loophole in Japanese tariff laws, of course.

Importing/exporting Japanese toys for business incurs a tariff. Exporting them for non-business purposes incurs no penalty. (My boss once experienced this firsthand at customs, when the officer encouraged him to say that the toys in his suitcase were for his kids, though they were actually for company purposes.)

Exporting food doesn't incur a tariff (or as much of a tax, I'm not entirely sure of the specifics). So by including candy and then marketing the product as "candy with a toy" they get around having to pay the tariff. Even when you go to a Japanese supermarket here in the United States, you'll see the aisle marked as "candy w/ toys."

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word hikikomori

A shut-in (recluse).

Made famous by the novel/manga/anime Welcome to the NHK. Though "NHK" stands for "Nippon H�?s�? Ky�?kai" (Japan Broadcasting Corporation), in Welcome to the NHK it is said to actually stand for "Nihon Hikikomori Ky�?kai" (Japanese Hikikomori Association), which is a conspiracy to turn young people into hikikomori.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word randoseru

The uniform backpacks of Japanese schoolchildren, which are actually based on military backpacks.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word shokugan

"Snack toy."

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word nihonga

Takashi Murakami has a PhD in this style of painting from the National University of Fine Arts and Music (Japan).

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word shoes

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word uppity

Georgia GOP congressman calls Obamas `uppity' (AP/September 5, 2008)

Democrats are calling on a Republican congressman from Georgia to apologize for referring to Barack and Michelle Obama as "uppity," but the lawmaker stood by his comments and said he meant no offense.

Speaking to reporters Thursday, Rep. Lynn Westmoreland of Grantville, Ga., described the Obamas as members of an "elitist-class ... that thinks that they're uppity," according to The Hill, a Capitol Hill newspaper.

Asked to clarify whether he intended to use the word, he said, "Yeah, uppity."

In a statement Friday, Westmoreland — a white man who was born in 1950 and raised in the segregated South — said he didn't know that "uppity" was commonly used as a derogatory term for blacks seeking equal treatment. Instead, he referred to the dictionary definition of the word as describing someone who is haughty, snobbish or has inflated self-esteem.

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word fuck

September 7, 2008

lampbane commented on the word boccia

A sport designed for athletes with a disability. Similar to bocce, it is designed to be played by people with cerebral palsy and other disabilities affecting motor skills.

The aim of the game is to throw leather balls as close as possible toward a white target ball (jack). The jack is thrown first, then each side takes turns to toss their ball towards the jack. The balls can be moved with hands, feet, or with an assistive device (if the competitor's disability is severe). At the end of each round, the referee measures the distance of the balls closest to the jack, and awards points accordingly.

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the user lampbane

Marketing copy will do that to you. ;)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word stealth

"She flies under the radar for a swift and unexpected attack, and any adversary caught unaware will get a swift lesson in shock and awe. Immensely strong and cool under pressure, she executes her favorite move -- a quick counter-attack that you never see coming."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word fury

"Fury takes ferocity to a whole new level. At 5-feet, 8-inches, she is a maelstrom of raw aggression and the epitome of the female gladiator. Equally balanced in speed and strength... Hell hath no fury like, Fury. Period."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word justice

"Tipping the scales at almost 300 pounds of power and with 20-inch guns at his disposal, Justice does indeed have a very long arm, and he'll pursue any adversary to the ends of the earth to prove it. Ask any of his opponents and they'll tell you that sometimes Justice hurts, and the scales always tip in his favor."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word mayhem

"A storm of smoldering intensity and lightning-quick reflexes, Mayhem unleashes waves of devastation through the ranks of even the most battle-hardened opponents."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word militia

"The 6-foot, 3-inch, 220-pound Gladiator targets his opponents with tactical precision. With an impressive arsenal of skills at his disposal, he is well equipped for any operation and will do anything to complete his objective. Once Militia has you in his sights, you'd better have a plan, or the game is over."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word rocket

"Rocket explodes with blazing speed every time he’s launched into the Gladiator Arena. This is one ruthless competitor who will charm you with a blinding smile right until the moment he roars up beside you like lightning, to toss you to your doom."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word toa

"With his tribal garb and distinctive tattoos, he may conjure up images of an island paradise, but facing him in battle is pure hell. Drawing on the power of his ancestors, Toa has the strength of a thousand warriors flowing through his veins, and he will never, ever show mercy."

(Official biography on NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word hurricane

"Run for cover as fast as you can whenever Hurricane blows into Gladiator Arena. Appearing without warning and striking with enough energy to blow down a mountain, those contenders unlucky enough to cross his path will experience a truly perfect storm of sheer athletic prowess and destructive Gladiator instinct."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators site)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word venom

"She has shed her skin to become one of the most feared warriors in Gladiator Arena. She stalks her prey with caution and strikes when it is least expected. Any opponent that faces her had better come prepared because there is no known antidote for Venom, who is lethal in any dose."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word steel

"Forged in flame and strengthened in battle, Steel hits with the force of an army and refuses to show an ounce of mercy. Preferring to speak with her actions rather than words, this statuesque behemoth flattens everything in her path and doesn't waste time looking back at the wreckage."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word phoenix

"Soaring into the sky like a spirit from the flames who has been kissed by the sun, the beautiful and bewitching Phoenix is as impossible to defeat as her mythical namesake. And just when a competitor has fooled herself into believing she’s got a chance, this dangerous bird of prey rises with talons fully extended to shred anyone into submission."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiator website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word panther

"Cunning, quick and sleek, Panther stalks her prey with unrelenting force and terrifying precision. Possessing both the strength of a savage beast and the ruthless instinct of a predator, you stand about as much chance against her as a mouse does against a jungle cat."

(Official biography on NBC's American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word jet

"The supersonic stunner is ready to create some major turbulence, so everyone should fasten their seatbelts, return their tray tables to the upright and locked position, and prepare for a crash landing."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word hellga

"When she stomps into Gladiator Arena, most sensible opponents run for cover rather than risk a Viking funeral. She may have left her horned helmet on the boat, but she hits with the force of Thor's hammer, and quickly sends opponents straight to Valhalla."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators site)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word wolf

"When you enter Gladiator Arena keep an eye out for Wolf! Able to smell fear and always going for the jugular, Wolf is 230-pounds of primal fury. He will ferociously defend his turf... and thrives on the opportunity to sink his teeth into any challenge."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word crush

"Don't let the winsome smile fool you... Crush earned her well-deserved moniker by smashing opponents into submission. Despite her girl-next-door looks, she's a powerful, fierce opponent who has no problem handling the women competitors, and then going back to breaking men's hearts."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word beast

"Half-man, half-monster and the biggest thing to hit the Gladiator Arena by far, The Beast leaves every contender who faces him a changed man forever.

Beyond big, badder than bad and absolutely immovable, The Beast competes without an ounce of mercy and obliterates everything unlucky enough to cross his path."

(Official biography on the NBC American Gladiators website)

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the list american-gladiators

Well, to be fair to Malibu and Sunny, I think those names were chosen in deference to their appearance - both were blonde. But Zen? That one made me do a double-take.

Zen

Zen brings his own lethal combination of ancient eastern tradition and 21st century battle technique to Gladiator Arena. Born to create chaos, this mysterious warrior uses superhuman speed and highflying skills to dispatch anyone unlucky enough to cross his path before they even realize they’re in danger, and the slips back into the shadows like a ghost to wait for his next victim.

To quote Inigo Montoya,

"You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means."

September 6, 2008

lampbane commented on the word advertising

I'm not liking the image ads that appear sporadically. They're kind of distracting and a bit confusing.

(See shinigami for an example.)

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the word hellga

The best gladiator name ever.

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the list american-gladiators

Seriously!

I used to watch this show all the time as a kid. The new version, not so much. (Though I caught the second season finals, and the male champion looks like David Tennant.)

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the list a-murakami

I have no idea what gunjoh is, but I can look through my Murakami catalog when I get home for more words.

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the word adventurer

The listed occupation of most superheroes and role-playing game characters.

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the word hummus

I once asked my mother to buy some at the supermarket and she had to look it up in the dictionary before she went shopping. Then, at the supermarket, my parents couldn't find it on the shelves, so they went to the information desk... and repeat.

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the word natt�?

Fermented soybeans. Edible... but just barely. An acquired taste.

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the word takoyaki

Fried octopus balls.

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the word ebi

"Shrimp."

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the word quenepa

From Wikipedia:

Also known as the mamoncillo (Melicoccus bijugatus), the mamón, chenet, guaya, gnep, ginep, skinnip (in Jamaica, St. Kitts), genip, guinep, ginnip, kenèp (in Haiti), ackee (in Barbados), Spanish lime, or limoncillo (in Dominican Republic).

A mamoncillo fruit has a thin but rigid layer of green skin. Inside the skin is the tart, tangy, cream pulp of the fruit, which is sucked off the seed by putting the whole fruit inside the mouth.

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the word lenticular

A printing technology that uses a lenticular lens to create an illusion of depth or animation when the image is viewed at different angles.

Wikipedia:

Each image is sliced into strips, which are then interlaced with one or more other images. These are printed on the back of a piece of plastic, with a series of long, thin lenses molded into the other side. The lenses are lined up with each image interlace, so that light reflected off each strip is refracted in a slightly different direction, but the light from all strips of a given image are sent in the same direction (parallel).

The end result is that a single eye or camera looking at the print sees a single whole image, but an eye or camera with a different angle of view will see a different image.

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the word malta

A type of carbonated malt beverage popular in the Caribbean. Made from barley, hops, yeast, and water.

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the word monumental city

I thought Baltimore's nickname was Charm City?

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the list http-www-orbitmerchantsolutions-com

Yes, because dinosaurs actually taste good.

September 5, 2008

lampbane commented on the word moon unit

Zappa!

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word when you saw a spider drop onto your shorts but you don't know where

It's the newest emo hit, now playing on Radio Disney.

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word camelot

Yes, that's the last line of the song.

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word veronica

Of course, the name actually came from the fact that they were ripping on Archie.

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word camelot

Knights:

"We're Knights of the Round Table.

We dance whene'er we're able.

We do routines and chorus scenes

With footwork impeccable.

We dine well here in Camelot.

We eat ham and jam and spam a lot.

We're Knights of the Round Table.

Our shows are formidable,

But many times we're given rhymes

That are quite unsingable.

We're opera mad in Camelot.

We sing from the diaphragm a lot.

In war we're tough and able,

Quite indefatigable.

Between our quests we sequin vests and impersonate Clark Gable.

It's a busy life in Camelot."

King Arthur:

"Well, on second thought, let's not go to Camelot. It is a silly place."

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word sheepshead

There are no sheep in Sheepshead Bay.

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word yellow

"Look at the stars

Look how they shine for you

And everything you do

Yeah, they were all yellow"

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word gomi

"Junk."

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word rexo

A copy made on a rexograph machine.

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word coolhunting

The main character in Pattern Recognition by William Gibson is a coolhunter.

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the list surf-it-scroll-it-click-it-load-it

By Wordietown standards, Lynx is just as popular as Firefox.

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the list parts-of-my-body-that-my-tongue-can-reach

Maybe that's why Prolagus hasn't listed any words yet.

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the list surf-it-scroll-it-click-it-load-it

Opera is actually my personal favorite. Where did you get this info?

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word chrome

It's actually quite nice; I've only had one page that didn't work properly. The program opens up faster than other browsers which is a huge advantage, but the loading of pages doesn't show any noticeable difference.

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word chrome

This comment was posted with Google Chrome.

Thus confirming that Wordie works in Chrome.

Brilliant!

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word naruhodo

"I see."

September 4, 2008

lampbane commented on the word supersenior

A student in their fifth year at a four-year high school.

September 2, 2008

lampbane commented on the word deathstick

"You want to go home and rethink your life."

September 2, 2008

lampbane commented on the word blacula

Jefferson Twilight: "Yes, I only hunt blaculas."

Guild Candidate: "Oh, so you only hunt African-American vampires?"

Twilight: "No, sometimes I hunt British vampires. They don't have 'African-Americans' in England!"

Candidate: "Oh yeah, yeah, good point."

Twilight: "So I hunt blaculas."

Candidate: "I was just trying to be..."

Twilight: "Man, I specialize in hunting black vampires, I don't know what the PC name for that is!"

September 1, 2008

lampbane commented on the word technotrash

Strangely enough, not actually talking about music.

August 30, 2008

lampbane commented on the word vpilf

Vice President I'd Like to Fuck

(No, seriously. The site was set up two months ago.)

August 30, 2008

lampbane commented on the word washitsu

A traditional Japanese-style room with tatami mats, and sliding walls or doors. Houses built Western-style might have one washitsu in which to entertain guests.

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the list words-to-describe-the-taste-of-food

My favorite food review was always Fry (from Futurama), on eating a gas station restroom egg salad sandwich:

"It's like there's a party in my mouth and everyone's throwing up."

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word munchkin

Do I at least get a box of Munchkins™ as a consolation prize?

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word spic

Frisky Dingo:

Carter (on TV): "Immigration: why not have a massive pedestrian overpass to Canada?"

Xander (turns TV off): "Man, I was gonna do a pedestrian overpass to Canada. I was gonna call it the "Spic Span."

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word montage

A montage of montages, starring a wagon full of pancakes.

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word misery

"They say misery loves company

We could start a factory

And make misery

Frustrated Incorporated

I know just what you need

I might just have the thing

I know what you'd pay to see

Put me out of my misery

I'd do it for you, would you do it for me?

We will always be busy, making misery"

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word she

"She's figured out

All her doubts were someone else's point of view

Waking up this time

To smash the silence with the brick of self-control"

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word holiday

"I beg to dream and differ from the hollow lies

This is the dawning of the rest of our lives

On holiday"

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word bodies

"Skin against skin, blood and bone

You're all by yourself but you're not alone

You wanted in, now you're here

Driven by hate, consumed by fear

Let the bodies hit the floor"

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word linger

"You know I'm such a fool for you

You got me wrapped around your finger

Do you have to let it linger?

Do you have to, do you have to

Do you have to let it linger?"

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word uninvited

"Like any uncharted territory

I must seem greatly intriguing

You speak of my love like

You have experienced love like mine before

But this is not allowed

You're uninvited

An unfortunate slight"

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word crazy

"I go crazy, crazy, baby, I go crazy

You turn it on

Then you're gone

Yeah you drive me

Crazy, crazy, crazy, for you baby

What can I do

Honey, I feel like the color blue"

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word run

"Holy girl

Don't get up

For running

Stay with me

I feel sad

When you run"

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word undertow

"You can't fight the undertow

Not when you're all alone

You can't fight the undertow

How long 'til you let go?"

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word queer

"The queerest of the queer

The strangest of the strange

The coldest of the cool

The lamest of the lame

The numbest of the dumb

I hate to see you here

You choke behind a smile

A fake behind the fear

The queerest of the queer"

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word apologize

"You tell me that you're sorry

Didn't think I'd turn around

And say

That it's too late to apologize

It's too late

I said it's too late to apologize

It's too late"

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word honestly

"I believe the love you talk about with me

Is it true, do I care

Honestly, you can try to wipe the memories aside

But it's you that you erase"

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word maps

"Wait! They don't love you like I love you.

Wait! They don't love you like I love you.

Maps, wait!

They don't love you like I love you."

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word weaksauce

I was trying to remember the name of the third sauce! I knew there was more than mild and hot, I just couldn't remember what the next step was. I just loved the progression.

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the list cities-i-am-sick-of-seeing-destroyed-in-disaster-movies

Warren Ellis is planning to destroy Moscow in the new G.I. Joe series he's working on. Mostly because they wouldn't let him destroy Beijing.

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word smof

Secret Master of Fandom.

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word wafel

There is a truck that appears outside my office building sometimes. It is called Wafels and Dinges. They serve waffles. These waffles are delicious.

There is the brussels wafel, the liege wafel, the liege cinnamon royal, and then there is the WMD... the Wafel of Massive Deliciousness.

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word weaksauce

Funny, my ex-boyfriend actually asked the same thing, and I was thrown for a loop. Weaksauce is one of those words that I guess doesn't make a strong impression when you first hear it, but it worms its way into your vocabulary anyway.

So no, I didn't invent the word. My best guess is that I first saw it on some video game site.

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word chaos world-smasher

Class cut from Warhammer Online due to:

Balance Problems

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word faerie candymancer

Class cut from Warhammer Online due to:

Thematic Concerns

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word orc mathguard

Class cut from Warhammer Online due to:

Frustrating Long-Division Based Gameplay

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word schrödinger's wolfman

"You can't, in good conscience, deny the possibility of closet wolfmen. It's irresponsible. They're pulling shit out of the ocean that's like, what? What the fuck is that? Anyway, you didn't look in there, so you don't know. It's like Schrödinger's Wolfman."

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word munchkin

Munchkin is also a term for a role-playing gamer who is more interested in exploiting the rules, making their character as powerful as possible, and "winning the game" than they are in actually playing a role.

There is no winning in role-playing games. There is merely dead or not dead.

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the word pileus

It's a dapper cloud.

August 29, 2008

lampbane commented on the list words-that-are-also-tv-shows

Sort of, but it's more interesting to me to list titles that are meant to describe the show's setting or plot, like "Drive" or "Undeclared."

August 28, 2008

lampbane commented on the list words-that-are-also-tv-shows

Isn't Huff the name of the main character? Same with House, actually.

August 28, 2008

lampbane commented on the word potamogeton

"Pot, am? O! Get on!"

August 28, 2008

lampbane commented on the word weaksauce

The mild needs more capsaicin.

August 28, 2008

lampbane commented on the word hitsuzen

The idea that an action is inevitable because without it, other related events in the future can not happen. Therefore all decisions and actions are related.

"There is no coincidence. There is only hitsuzen."

August 28, 2008

lampbane commented on the word weaksauce

To be lame, unworthy, pathetic. In reference to the flavors of hot sauce available at Taco Bell - mild and hot.

August 28, 2008

lampbane commented on the list whether-the-weather

Hither the weather.

August 28, 2008

lampbane commented on the word isbn

I had already fixed it when you commented, but maybe we can all ponder why no one ever says "U-Pic" (UPC).

August 28, 2008

lampbane commented on the list state-of-the-union

On the more vulgar side, there's always Californication and Masshole.

August 28, 2008

lampbane commented on the word isbn

International Standard Book Number, usually pronounced as "IZ-bin"

August 27, 2008

lampbane commented on the word cirrocumulus

High-altitude cloud usually occurring at 16,000-40,000 feet.

August 27, 2008

lampbane commented on the word pileus

A small horizontal cloud that can appear above a cumulus or cumulonimbus cloud, giving the other cloud a hood-like appearance.

August 27, 2008

lampbane commented on the list well-known-places-youve-never-heard-of

How about Borinquen? It's the Taíno (aboriginal) name for what we know (in English y Español) as Puerto Rico.

August 27, 2008

lampbane commented on the word cantenna

"Okay, the Pringles cantenna has let us patch in to the WiFi network across the road."

August 27, 2008

lampbane commented on the word ejaculariat

In reference to a Takashi Murakami work (NSFW).

May 16, 2008

lampbane commented on the word hyperdeath

When the Democratic Order of Planets opens their new headquarters, Zapp uses his ship's "hyperdeath" setting to cut the ribbon, destroying the station.

May 16, 2008

lampbane commented on the word oh boy!

Sam says this at the beginning of most episodes of Quantum Leap after he sees what/who he's just lept into.

May 16, 2008

lampbane commented on the word frack

More Frak Than You Could Ever Want (io9, May 16, 2008):

It's the censorship-evading word that stands as proof at how involved Battlestar Galactica has become in modern popular culture.

Frak used to be much more polite: According to the Battlestar Wiki, "Frack" - the official spelling of the word for the original 1970s version of the show, according to the Writer's Guide - didn't always mean "fuck":

"Frack" is a Colonial expletive, roughly analagous to "shit" or even the milder "rats" or "darn" of the Original Series.

May 16, 2008

lampbane commented on the word frak

More Frak Than You Could Ever Want (io9, May 16, 2008):

It's the censorship-evading word that stands as proof at how involved Battlestar Galactica has become in modern popular culture. Frak has even shown up in non-Cylon-friendly shows like Veronica Mars and Gilmore Girls. But did you know that many households the world over are more familiar with frakking than you'd expect? More on that, and four other Frak Facts, after the jump.

May 16, 2008

lampbane commented on the word fuck

Bad Words, Overused, Can Lose Their Sting (New York Times, 05/16/08):

The most surprising thing about Sue Simmons’s unbleeped blooper the other night is that anyone in this city even noticed.

You may have read about her unfortunate slip. Ms. Simmons, a news anchor on WNBC-TV, tried to get the attention of her longtime partner, Chuck Scarborough, by asking him, “What are you doing?�?

Only she did not realize that they were live on the air. And she didn’t quite say “What are you doing?�? She inserted two words between “what�? and “are.�? One of those words was “the.�? Sorry to be coy about the other one, but it is not allowed to be printed here. Rules are rules. If you can’t figure out what it is, you have not been in New York very long — like less than four minutes.

Despite a certain amount of twitter over this incident, it seems that both the republic and Ms. Simmons will survive. “She’ll continue to be on the air,�? said a WNBC spokeswoman, Susan Kiel.

The reality is that this vulgar word has been tossed about with such abandon in public for so many years that New Yorkers tend to tune it out. Its endless, and mindless, repetition left them numb long ago. By now, the word is no longer shocking, just tedious.

May 16, 2008

lampbane commented on the word snu-snu

"The Amazonians will be divided into three groups. The one called Zapp will be snu-snued by the large women. He that is designated Fry will be snu-snued by the petite women. And Kif, as the most attractive male, will be snu-snued by the most beautiful women of Amazonia. Then the large women. Then the petite women. Then the large women again."

May 15, 2008

lampbane commented on the word champagne

Zapp Brannigan: Want the rest of the shampagan?

Leela: It's pronounced champagne.

May 15, 2008

lampbane commented on the word killbot

"You see, Killbots have a preset kill limit. Knowing their weakness, I sent wave after wave of my own men at them, until they reached their limit and shut down."

May 15, 2008

lampbane commented on the word brannigan's law

Wikipedia on Brannigan's Law:

"Brannigan's Law states that one cannot interfere with an undeveloped planet, a parody of the Prime Directive from Star Trek."

Zapp Brannigan on Brannigan's Law:

"Brannigan's Law is like Brannigan's love: hard and fast."

May 15, 2008

lampbane commented on the word cake

The cake is a lie!

May 15, 2008

lampbane commented on the word d20

A twenty-sided die.

May 15, 2008

lampbane commented on the word demon blood

Penny Arcade (01/25/08):

"Honey, is this demon blood still good? I think it's crystallized."

May 15, 2008

lampbane commented on the word fist pound

Penny Arcade (03/07/08):

"Fist Pounding: When is it appropriate?"

May 14, 2008

lampbane commented on the word waffle

Penny Arcade (03/28/08):

"Can't you hear them? Can't you hear the waffles?"

May 14, 2008

lampbane commented on the word peacebonding

Penny Arcade (04/02/08):

"'Peacebonding' means you agree not to hurt anyone with your cannon... thing."

May 14, 2008

lampbane commented on the word tweetworthy

Penny Arcade (04/23/08):

"You don't need to tweet this. It's not tweetworthy."

May 14, 2008

lampbane commented on the word lol

See also lolcat.

May 13, 2008

lampbane commented on the word epoch fail

"My code's crashing when given pre-1970 dates."

May 13, 2008

lampbane commented on the word maintain

Mayor Bloomberg’s Least Favorite Word (New York Times, May 12, 2008):

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg may have a few words like “unconscionable�? that he cannot say frequently enough, but there is at least one word he apparently cannot abide: “maintain.�? It has such a negative connotation for the mayor that reporters wanting answers dare not speak its name.

May 13, 2008

lampbane commented on the word r2-d2

Starting with A New Hope I would say C-3PO really belongs to Princess Leia - he remains at the Yavin base with her during the battle, then in Empire Strikes Back he escapes with Han and Leia aboard the Millennium Falcon. As for R2-D2, he's pretty much Luke's as of the Yavin IV battle.

Interesting thing to consider though - C-3PO was built by Anakin but ends up with Padmé, while R2-D2 was originally owned by Padmé but ended up with Anakin. And then those ownerships kinda transferred over to Luke and Leia.

December 15, 2007

lampbane commented on the word pre-suspension

Something we had at my K-8 school. Instead of being thrown out of the school building entirely, kids would be thrown out of their class and be forced to stay with a younger grade until their sentence was served.

December 14, 2007

lampbane commented on the word superflat

Takashi Murakami for the win!

December 14, 2007

lampbane commented on the word woot

It's okay, I'm not shedding any tears over it... woot.

December 13, 2007

lampbane commented on the word woot

VanishedOne: I already posted that link.

December 13, 2007

lampbane commented on the word bump

In message boards and the like, bumping is the act of posting to push a particular thread to the top of the active list.

Some say it means "Bring Up My Post" but that's a backronym.

December 13, 2007

lampbane commented on the word woot

Contrary to what Merriam-Webster says, this word is not an acronym for "We Owned the Other Team." (I've never even heard of that before.) That would be a backronym.

See Grant Barrett's history of the term.

December 13, 2007

lampbane commented on the word hell-diver

What, no holy-diver?

December 8, 2007

lampbane commented on the word mobyaphobia

Or a fear of bald, vegan techno musicians.

December 7, 2007

lampbane commented on the word libratorr

Penny Arcade (8/3/07):

"I thought librarian implied gender, like... like 'sorceress.'"

December 7, 2007

lampbane commented on the word libraryman

Penny Arcade (8/3/07):

"So you're saying men can be librarians?"

December 7, 2007

lampbane commented on the word shitwizard

Penny Arcade (6/25/07):

"Someone needs to remind these shitwizards that they make chips, and not jet skis, or luges!"

December 7, 2007

lampbane commented on the word rocketeering

Penny Arcade (3/23/07):

"I fly around with my jetpack, and I fight Nazis."

December 7, 2007

lampbane commented on the word hypocritic oath

Penny Arcade (1/10/07):

"I'm free to radically alter my beliefs whenever it's convenient."

December 7, 2007

lampbane commented on the word renkinjutsushi

"Alchemist."

Fullmetal Alchemist is known as "Hagane no Renkinjutsushi" ("Alchemist of Steel") in Japanese and often abbreviated as Hagaren.

December 7, 2007

lampbane commented on the word chuwero

Penny Arcade (11/10/06):

"You said that we have 'asshole faces,' and that we 'eat and fuck shit.'"

December 6, 2007

lampbane commented on the word armadeaddon

Penny Arcade (8/8/06):

"We come to the mall to get Dead Rising, and it's infested with fucking zombies? Ironic, don'tcha think?"

December 6, 2007

lampbane commented on the word delicious

Penny Arcade (7/12/06):

"What does it mean to be delicious? Can something untasteable posess some flavor that is metatastual? Could, then, an idea be delicious?"

December 6, 2007

lampbane commented on the word chokeaeran

Penny Arcade (6/14/06):

Tycho: "Not dragons per se. Technically, they're Dragaerans."

Gabe: "That's fair. Let's say I were to... chokeaeran you. Would you appreciate the distinction?"

December 6, 2007

lampbane commented on the word sorcelator

Penny Arcade (5/19/06):

"Steadying himself atop the speeding Lamborghini, the sorcelator drew his twin wands - Hurt, and Burn. He was going to make damn sure the Pirate Assassins and their metal friends rued this day, and rued it hard."

December 6, 2007

lampbane commented on the word lesbonese

Penny Arcade (3/27/06):

Tycho: "What I understand is that you spent a hundred dollars on manga, and you can't read Japanese."

Gabe: "Yes, but I do read Lesbonese."

December 6, 2007

lampbane commented on the word mangannaise

Penny Arcade (3/27/06):

Gabe: "This is mangannaise."

Tycho: "You're just saying words you heard today. This is porno."

December 6, 2007

lampbane commented on the word horsepire

Penny Arcade (2/1/06):

"As you enter the Black Stable, the horsepire whinnies malevolently."

December 6, 2007

lampbane commented on the word unicorn giggles

Penny Arcade (1/25/06):

"Oh, Black is so wonderful! It's like drinking unicorn giggles!"

December 6, 2007

lampbane commented on the word mais-hole

Penny Arcade (12/14/05):

Gabe: "So I couldn't call you a mais-hole."

Tycho: "You could, but it wouldn't mean anything. Hole isn't a French word."

December 5, 2007

lampbane commented on the word elemenstor

Penny Arcade (11/7/05):

"A flash of lightning tore through the tumult, illuminating the grizzled Elemenstor and his ambulatory dresser."

December 5, 2007

lampbane commented on the word cockthirsty

Penny Arcade (9/16/05):

"I'm going to give you one big word, and whenever you want to seem smart, just bust it out. They'll think you're awesome."

December 5, 2007

lampbane commented on the word found cake

Penny Arcade (7/29/05):

"You can't just find cake. Cake isn't naturally occurring."

December 5, 2007

lampbane commented on the word kung-foo rooster

Penny Arcade (6/15/05):

"He was a chicken that knew kung-fu."

December 5, 2007

lampbane commented on the word sxw�?št'qá

Looks like you can add it to your list properly if you click on sarra's link.

(And hey, I could have written it properly too, I had a 50/50 shot at it. Which I blew. Just goes to show that the first instinct is usually right.)

December 5, 2007

lampbane commented on the word sxw�?št'qá

Sorry, you said "x with rounded secondary articulation" so I assumed that the superscript was the indicator in itself. Clearly, this language is even more complicated than I thought.

December 5, 2007

lampbane commented on the word hobosexual

Would someone who likes to have sex with robot hobos be a robohobosexual, then?

December 5, 2007

lampbane commented on the word sxw�?št'qá

S^xw�?št'qá?

December 5, 2007

lampbane commented on the word arg

Also, Alternate Reality Game.

December 4, 2007

lampbane commented on the word conchomancy

Divination with shells.

December 4, 2007

lampbane commented on the word botanomancy

Divination by burning sage or figs.

December 4, 2007

lampbane commented on the word alomancy

Divination using salt.

December 4, 2007

lampbane commented on the word shitfucker

Penny Arcade (2/14/05):

"I think the main problem I have is that you are a shitfucker."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word merch

Penny Arcade (1/5/05):

"If kids buy enough products, the Merch rouses from his coma just long enough to impart some keen insight."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word headcrab

Penny Arcade (11/15/04):

"This isn't dandruff! This is an alien parasite, controlling my every move!"

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word gayzor mountains

Penny Arcade (11/3/04):

"This might not be necessary. If these are indeed the Gayzor Mountains, we can safely assume that the inhabitants share certain customs."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word wheatloaf

Penny Arcade (8/9/04):

"I'm making wheatloaf. It's like meatloaf, only with wheat."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word eroticon

Penny Arcade (6/21/04):

"I said that playing Transformers was like getting oral sex from Optimus Prime while Eroticons massage energon into your most secret, sensual places."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word canid

Penny Arcade (5/21/07):

"I dreamed our world had been conquered by malevolent, spacefaring dog-men, known as the Canid."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word labia

Penny Arcade (11/28/03):

"My parents are coming over tonight. I don't want you to say Labia."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word stave

Penny Arcade (9/17/03):

"The judge says we can't use swords, magic, or items in this battle. He recommended staves instead. I don't know what those are."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word fan-fucking-tastic

Penny Arcade (7/7/03):

"Fan-fucking-tastic might not be a word, but we can give it the star treatment with a few hyphens!"

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word claw shrimp

Penny Arcade (6/19/02):

"This injury is very reminiscent of a Claw Shrimp attack."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the list no-hablo-espaaol

Then be enlightened and know that "¿Qué?" is "What?" and "que" is "that."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word stuponfucious

Penny Arcade (12/10/03):

"It's the state of... You know, it's induced by... thinking something is... is... Awesome."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word hat made of money

Penny Arcade (10/23/00):

"Do you like my hat? It's made of MONEY!"

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word deep crow

Penny Arcade (10/10/07):

"Also, Power Dome A is now the roost of a truly ancient Deep Crow."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word fisherman's mouth

Penny Arcade (11/26/07):

"Trust me: nobody ever wants anything to do with anyone who has something called 'Fisherman's Mouth.'"

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word babyta ray

Penny Arcade (11/23/07)

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word womanta ray

Penny Arcade (11/23/07)

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word unbewiiver

Penny Arcade (9/10/2007):

"I no longer believe the propaganda spread by Xbots and Unbewiivers."

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word taser

Wikipedia to the rescue!

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word taser

I have no idea if you're being sarcastic or not. I was referring to the Imus/Rutgers incident.

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word taser

I never got the impression that WOTY always had to be new, just important. And I think taser was important this year, as was nappy.

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word por

Well, it's more of a "done and over with" versus "ongoing." The journey versus the destination.

(At least, that's the best I can manage when I'm not actively using the language anymore.)

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the list no-hablo-espaaol

Que is already on there. Unless you're asking why I made this list. I did it because I'm curious how much Spanish I still remember.

If only this site was around when I was still in high school...

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the word jaffa

I think the mispronunciation was actually kind of funny. It was kind of like how people might pronounce tomato or coupon. I do wish they had at least had one person point it out.

December 3, 2007

lampbane commented on the list believe-it-or-not

I actually took both metaphysics and existentialism in high school.

December 2, 2007

lampbane commented on the word por

There's a reason I made that notation - so I don't screw it up myself.

December 2, 2007

lampbane commented on the word qué

(Spanish) "What?"

December 2, 2007

lampbane commented on the word que

(Spanish) That, which.

December 2, 2007

lampbane commented on the word miércoles

I was watching The Addams Family (the movie) in Spanish once, and I was disappointed to see that they had changed Wednesday's name to Marina.

December 2, 2007

lampbane commented on the word por

By; through; because of. Not to be confused with para.

December 2, 2007

lampbane commented on the word para

For; in order to. Not to be confused with por.

December 2, 2007

lampbane commented on the word aleithiometer

I think you mean alethiometer.

December 2, 2007

lampbane commented on the list letters

Sorting these in alphabetical order yields some interesting results.

December 2, 2007

lampbane commented on the word catchy

I find this word ugly. Not in sound, but in appearance.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the list letters

That's the long s.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the list letters

How about ſ?

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word Æsahættr

It's the special characters.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word ailuromancy

Divination by studying the movements of cats.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word acultomancy

Divination by studying needles dropped into a bowl of water or surface coated with powder.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word abacomancy

Divination by studying the patterns in dirt, dust, sand, silt, or even the ashes of the recently deceased.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word scrying

Divination by gazing into objects like crystal balls, mirrors, and water.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word Æsahættr

The Subtle Knife.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word cauchuc

Term for rubber in the His Dark Materials trilogy.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word scatomancy

It depends on who you are and what you're looking for. Apparently people used to stare at their own crap, but later on it was more the study of animal feces. This is where the Egyptian worship of dung beetles originated.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word rumspringa

Usually a lot of these kids get burned by the outside world (drugs, drinking) and come running back, which binds them tighter to the community.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word necromancy

Originally meant as divination by speaking to the dead, later came to mean black magic and demon summoning.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word aeromancy

Divination by studying atmospheric conditions. Can include wind, clouds, thunder and lightning.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word geomancy

Divination by studying patterns and markings in the earth. However, in some Final Fantasy games it means your character can throw rocks around and cause earthquakes.

December 1, 2007

lampbane commented on the word hagiomancy

Divination by consulting the saints.

December 1, 2007