https://deanebarker.net https://deanebarker.net/huh/emerald-city/ This is the “official” nickname of Seattle. I quote “official” because I’m not sure the city government ever voted on it, but rather it was a name selected from a contest sponsored by the Seattle… Sat, 27 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/emerald-city/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/great-firewall/ No, it’s not a specific thing. According to Wikipedia: The Great Firewall is the combination of legislative actions and technologies enforced by the People’s Republic of China to regulate the Internet… Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/great-firewall/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/clown-prince/ This is an idiom with no settled meaning. Some people consider it an insult, others a term of endearment. The most common usage is by the character of The Joker in the Batman universe. He describes… Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/clown-prince/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/wicked-problem/ A problem that is very hard to solve, and might not have a solution because the requirements keep changing, and it’s a zero-sum game where if someone wins, someone else loses. The title comes from a… Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/wicked-problem/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/benighted/ This seems to mean “be-nighted,” like “being in night” or “being in darkness.” Specifically, “night” seems to be intended as state of unknowing or ignorance. Another definition: If you describe people… Wed, 24 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/benighted/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/bipoc/ The NY Times, in an article entitled Where Did BIPOC Come From? claims this tweet is the first usage: Shout out to @EricPride @ToTNG @MissHC @Aim_4_Greatness & @headonist Thanks for… Tue, 23 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/bipoc/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/august/ A sidebar in a book about skyscrapers discussed the business value of super-tall buildings. …the mile-high tower – as august as it sounds – makes no economic or commercial sense Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/august/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/disputed-books/ There are dozens of books, chapters, and gospels that were once included in the Hebrew Bible, or that various scholars believe should be included. Some of these books have questionable attribution, or… Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/disputed-books/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/liberation-theology/ This is an interpretation of Christian doctrine that believes the Christian faith should primarily be a tool to liberate oppressed people, and that sin is manifested in unjust social structures. The… Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/liberation-theology/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/noble-savage/ This is a theory that humans are inherently peaceful and are corrupted by modern society and economic systems. It’s mainly attributed to the French philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who wrote in his… Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/noble-savage/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/tiger-team/ A 1964 paper entitled “Program Management in Design and Development” for an aerospace conference introduced this term as: a team of undomesticated and uninhibited technical specialists, selected for… Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/tiger-team/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/blue-laws/ Blue laws are regulations that attempt to restrict activities or the sale of specific goods or services for religious reasons. The most common in the United States is the restriction of selling… Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/blue-laws/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/arabia/ No, not really. It is specifically not a single country. Most generally, this is the entire Arabian Peninsula, which currently includes the countries of: The root of the word is “Arab,”” which has… Mon, 22 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/arabia/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/journeyman/ You see this word used a lot in sports to describe an average to slightly above-average player that was played for many teams, never been a star, but has provided a competent background presence. In… Sun, 21 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/journeyman/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/inchoate/ Some really interesting etymology here: Inchoate derives from inchoare, which means “to start work on” in Latin but translates literally as “to hitch up.” Inchoare was formed from the prefix in- and… Sun, 21 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/inchoate/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/gizzard/ This is an organ found in birds and some other creatures. It’s a type of “pre-stomach” that grinds food, since birds don’t have teeth. Some birds actually swallow stones which stay resident in their… Sun, 21 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/gizzard/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/pilloried/ A “pillory” were the classic “stocks” in the town square in Old England where criminals would be locked so people could ridicule them and throw fruit at them. No one does that anymore, so “pilloried”… Sun, 21 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/pilloried/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/peripatetic/ If it’s capitalized, then it refers to followers of Aristotle, since he liked to teach while walking around. In article about a sexual abuser. Today, Griffeth views her family’s peripatetic existence… Sun, 21 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/peripatetic/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/numismatics/ At the end of an informercial about an investment opportunityin rare coins (or maybe precious metals, I don’t quite remember), there was this disclaimer: This program is meant to be a numismatic,… Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/numismatics/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/front-range/ This is technically a specific mountain subrange in the Rockies. However, it’s used as a general descriptor for area on the Eastern side of the Rockies. Years ago, I read a proposal for Front Range… Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/front-range/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/coordinated-disclosure/ This is a cybersecurity practice which promotes the disclosure of security vulnerabilties to the affected vendor first, before public disclosure. If a software or hardware vulnerability is announced… Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/coordinated-disclosure/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/wits-end/ This is an idiom that means you’re frustrated or mentally exhausted about something. It depends on the usage of “wit” being understood in its classical definition of “to be able to know or think,”… Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/wits-end/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/wagnerian/ Richard Wagner was a German composer in the 1800s. (In English, his last name is pronounced “vog-ner.”) He’s most well-known for his epic opera cycle The Ring and specifically one of its musical… Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/wagnerian/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/stack-effect/ This is a naturally-occurring phenomenon of vertical structures where the building heats air which then rises and escapes through the top of the building. This creates a vacuum which draws new air in… Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/stack-effect/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/scholia/ These are notes and edits in the margins on ancient texts. This was apparently common, as transcribing books was expensive and time-consuming, and authors had no easy way to edit them. Today, these… Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/scholia/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/presbytery/ “Presbyter” is an honorific title for a single Christian clergy. This comes from a Greek word for “old man.” It might be the root for the word “priest.” A pastoral staff considered as a group is a… Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/presbytery/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/permafrost/ Earth/soil that stays frozen. Dirt has moisture in it, and when it gets cold, that water freezes and becomes hard like concrete. Often this is a few inches below the surface. The dirt on the surface… Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/permafrost/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/basic-slang/ It means someone who is uninteresting, often due to only enjoying mainstream hobbies and interests. Some choice quotes from the Urban Dictionary: […] A person who has failed to develop their own… Sat, 20 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/basic-slang/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/cecil-rhodes/ A British businessman and politician who operated mainly in Southern Africa in the late 1800s, where he moved as a child. Rhodes is known for several things: Rhodes is a controversial figure. He was… Fri, 19 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/cecil-rhodes/ https://deanebarker.net/huh/peacock-term/ This is a complimentary or promotional term or phrase without any attribution. For example: Accomplished actress, Tara Reid… The word “accomplished” has no attribution, therefore it’s considered… Fri, 19 Nov 2021 00:00:00 +0000 https://deanebarker.net/huh/peacock-term/