Even though a lot of Acronyms are not really acronyms, they follow that basic pattern. Here is a list of some of my favorites (along with their meanings):
1. TANSTAAFL - Their Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch
Popularized by the Robert Heinlein novel The Moon is a Harsh Mistress, TANSTAAFL is the basic understanding that nothing is without cost (not necessarily in a monetary sense). It is, if you will indulge me, very similar to the concepts of the First Law of Motion and the theory of General Relativity. Everything has a cost, no matter what.
It is one of those nerd/geek acronyms that is sometimes used as a shibboleth to test newcomers to a group.
2. USAMRIID - United States Army Medical Research Institute for Infectious Diseases
Often pronounced as a word (yoo-SAM-rid), this acronym sits in my subconscious in the same general area as the Zombpocalypse, Post-Apocalyptic fiction, and other such events.
I often find this is best used as a starting point in a lot of my never-seen fiction stories. Namely because they blow chunks.
3. SNAFU/TARFU/FUBAR - Situation Normal: All Fucked Up/Things Are Really Fucked Up/Fucked Up Beyond All Recognition
Long standing acronyms with military origins, these three are primarily a measuring stick for a situation. Whichever one is used in a given situations describes just how bad things really are. Although, all things considered, TARFU is rarely used. Indicating that things are really either fucked up, or really, really fucked up.
These saw frequent use during my college days when I was trying to describe how difficult it was to help most end-users.
4. LART - (L)user Attitude Readjustment Tool
SysAdmins, BOFHs, PFYs, and other Tech Support people deal with a nearly endless supply of retarded and moronic bullshit everyday; a LART is a rarely used tool to strike back at the worst-of-the-worst. These range from blunt objects suitable to hit people with, to programs and codes used on computer systems to get just enough revenge to keep SysAdmins from going postal. It takes a lot of restraint, every day, for most IT staff to deal with the constant stream of shit they deal with, and LARTs allow us to dream of the answer we would really like to give end users.
My favorite LART was a program that I never used. It displayed a message on which printer you attached the script to, basically throwing out a random insult on the printer display.
5. BUFF - Big Ugly Fat Fucker
A common nickname for the B-52. I really don't see any reason to explain further.
6. Army - Ain't Ready for Marines Yet
7. Marines - My Ass Rides In Navy Equipment, Sir!
8. Navy - Never Again Volunteer Yourself
I had a lot of enlisted friends in college.
I can't really think of too many more, at the moment. But I'm sure more will crop up, eventually. I'm always finding new ones. It'll be great. You'll see.
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