Drippin’ Life
I’ve always been fond of the philosophy that it’s a good thing to learn something new every day...to be open-minded to new ideas, new trends and new expressions in our culturally diverse society.
At this time in our society, changes are coming faster than ever... and if you don’t believe it, just shop for a new cell phone or check out new computers...or go to an online Apps Store and be dazzled by the wide variety of new tools now available.
So, the other day -- sometime between 5 a.m. and my favorite morning news program -- it occurred to me how many terms we’re regularly hearing or using today that weren’t around a decade or so ago. Some of these terms have come from our ever-evolving electronic technology, others from the younger generations. Sadly, still others have come with the last 11 years of wars involving the U.S.
This is a portion of my list:
1. AARPing: how younger people refer to a senior citizen who complains endlessly, i.e., “Don’t mind Grandpa. He’s just aarping.”
2. Boots on the ground: war talk that means we’re sending our soldiers into combat situations in a foreign country. In politics – campaign workers, either locally or across the country.
3. IED: not to be confused with IUD, an IED is an improvised explosive device used to maim or kill hundreds of U.S. troops in the unconventional wars over in Iraq and Afghanistan.
4. Ping me: high-tech shorthand meaning text or email your response. Even though it sounds possibly painful, it is not a violent act.
5. WMD: a way of killing or injuring a lot of people at one time = Weapons of Mass Destruction. Used to describe nuclear devices which were expected, but not found, in Iraq; however chemical-agent versions of WMDs were used in Syria as well as northern-Iraq. The military classifies WMDs using “NBC,” which stands for Nuclear-Biological, and Chemical.
6. Tweets: not to be confused with the old term “twit,” used to describe certain birds and annoying persons. A Tweet is a 140-character opinion or observation you send via your cell or iPhone.
7. Twitter: not to be confused with the sound birds make, “Twitter” is a relatively new and very popular addition to social media. It consists of no more than 140 characters that you send out into the universe for your “followers” to consume.
8. Followers: these are people who have plugged into your Twitter account, breathlessly awaiting your profound 140-character thoughts and reactions. Your popularity may be measured in terms of your Tweet followers.
9. Twerking: at first I thought “twerk” meant sending a “mean-spirited Tweet,” but now that I’ve seen demonstrations, I know it to be a dance step best accomplished by individuals with ample and agile backsides....and our parents thought Elvis’ gyrations were naughty!!
10. Baby Daddy: the man who fathered the baby -- in or out of wedlock -- sometimes proven by way of a cheek swab from baby and suspected “baby daddy” to determine if their DNA matches. Baby daddy is also used in place of “boyfriend” or “husband.”
11. TMI (too much information): response after you’ve provided too graphic a description about your prep for a colonoscopy...or how you found out who your greatgranddaughter’s baby daddy is.
12. I’m good: what young people say asked if they’re doing okay, such as when Grandma offers more potatoes or a replacement for their ragged sneakers or asks if they need a warm jacket.
13. Waterboarding: is not a sport, like snowboarding or skate-boarding as I first thought. Quite the opposite, the term “waterboarding” describes a type of torture involving lots of water. There was an uproar when it was released that interrogations using waterboarding were used on terror suspects; however the technique has been routinely used by the military on its own during SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) as a form of training for possible capture (mostly infantrymen and pilots) without comment from the press.
14. App: an abbreviation for “application.” It is a piece of software that runs on the Internet, your computer, your phone or other electronic device. There are apps for everything, from finding restaurants, taking your pulse and opening your garage door.
15. Awkward: a word teens usually say in a sing-song voice after an embarrassing moment, i.e., when you’re in public and discover you’re wearing your blouse wrongside out...or you notice your date has a piece of toilet paper stuck to his shoe after his visit to the restroom.
16. Off their meds: a observation referring to someone who’s out of sorts and/or behaving out of character, as in, “Mildred must be off her meds.”
17. Tanorexics: no matter how often they go to the tanning salon, they’re never tan enough. See Washington politicians, models and movie stars.
18. Stealth: sneaky, quiet, and not apparent. Example: Sending a text or email -- the stealth way of quitting a job or breaking off a relationship.
19. Texting: a stealth way of communicating with friends by cell phone while at a family dinner, when a class or sermon gets boring or while waiting in a doctor’s office.
20. Game over: means “the end.” Borrowed from video gamespeak. “Game over” is often said when someone wants to end a conversation, a relationship or an event.
21. Gitmo: short for “Guantanamo U.S. Naval Base” where our country holds enemy combatants. So, how much is this endless imprisonment costing U.S. taxpayers and how long will this continue?
22. I’m outta here; Later: new ways of saying, “I’m leaving” or “Goodbye.”
23. Baby bump: modern term for a woman who is with child.
24. Harvey’s baby bump: The term South Texas hospital delivery rooms are assigning the recent uptick in childbirths – from pregnancies beginning during Hurricane Harvey.
24. Baby bump watch: when the media suspects a celebrity is “with child.”
25. Bucket list: a list of things you want to see and/or do before you die.
26. YOLO: means “you only live once.” Usually used as an excuse for a bad decision, such as chopping off your own hair or dating a bad choice.
There are, of course, many others. I’m sure you’ve heard many more than these. My only comment is, “Let’s be BFFs. U da bomb!”