New Terms for the 90s

  • Blamestorming
    Sitting around in a group discussing why a deadline was missed or a project failed, and who was responsible.
  • Ego Surfing
    Scanning the Net, databases, print media and so on, looking for references to one’s own name.
  • Swiped Out
    An ATM or credit card that has been rendered useless because the magnetic strip is worn away from extensive use. (And it only happens when you only have $.23 cents in your wallet)
  • GOOD Job
    A “Get-Out-Of-Debt” job. A well-paying job people take in order to pay off their debts, one that they will quit as soon as they are solvent again.
  • Tourists
    People who take training classes just to get a vacation from their jobs. “We had three serious students in the class; the rest were just tourists.”
  • Beepilepsy
    The brief seizure people sometimes have when their beeper goes off (especially in vibrator mode). Characterized by physical spasms, goofy facial expressions and interruption of speech in mid-sentence.
  • SnailMail
    “REAL” mail that the post office actually sends PS. In the US, Personal snail mail has dropped 10% last because of email.
  • Starter
    A short-lived first marriage that ends in divorce. Marriage with no kids, no property and no regrets.
  • SITCOMs
    What yuppies turn into when they have children and one of them stops working to stay home with the kids. Stands for Single Income, Two Children, Oppressive Mortgage.
  • Mouse Potato
    The online, wired generation’s answer to the couch potato. ARE YOU ONE?
  • Anonymiss
    The act of forgetting someone’s name immediately upon being introduced.
  • Crough
    To cough during a play or concert, causing other people around you to cough.
  • Jennamnesia
    To be so drunk as to forget you’re the President’s daughter.
  • Bobbityboo
    Mental distress in males inspired by thoughts of surgically-removed penises.
  • Spaffle
    Completely cooked waffle iron runoff.
  • Smealth
    The ability to secretly leave behind body odor in an elevator to be blamed on the next person who enters.
  • Algoria
    Finding one’s Day Planner suddenly very, very, open.
  • Massturbation
    Group phone sex.
  • Dopplersation
    A discussion held by two people who are continuing to move away from each other.
  • Afterblow
    The compulsive need to review the contents of one’s handkerchief following a good nose-blow.
  • Spillisecond
    The fraction of a second in which one may recover a toppled beverage before any liquid spills out.
  • Algebrassierism
    The compulsion to spend time in math class spelling “BOOBIES” on an upside-down calculator.
  • Doglet
    Any breed of dog so small it can be terrorized by the average-sized house cat.
  • Squee-Squee
    The curved line on a windshield caused by a little nick in an old wiper blade.