Lexical Compendium

Wait... what is this? Sometimes I come across a word, phrase, idiom, quote, reference, bit of slang, person of interest, etc that either I don't know or I find amusing, interesting, etc. This is a collection of those items so that I can refer back to them in emails, texts, etc.

Recent Entries:

Tag Cloud netspeak vocabulary software computer-science quote television ai science history acronym eponymous slang games podcast music idiom entomology jargon movie space technology tipofmytongue politics grammar legal

Stockdale Paradox

The Stockdale Paradox is a concept named after Admiral James Stockdale, who survived as a prisoner of war in Vietnam for over seven years. The paradox describes a mindset that balances unwavering faith in a positive outcome with the discipline to confront brutal realities. Stockdale observed that prisoners who relied solely on optimism -- expecting to be freed by Thanksgiving, then New Years, then ... -- often succumbed to despair when their expectations weren’t met. In contrast, those who survived, like himself, maintained hope while also acknowledging and adapting to the harshness of their circumstances.

I'm not sure that I would have read it otherwise, but I worked a company were we were all gifted the book Good to Great by Jim Collins. This is where I first came across the Stockdale Paradox.

I came across it again recently while listening to The Interview (a New York Times podcast) interview of Ed Yong. Ed brought up the Stockdale Paradox as a means for coping with the state of the world right now.


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References:

  1. Wikipedia: James Stockdale
  2. Excerpts from "Good to Great" on the Stockdale Paradox
  3. NYT (The Interview): Ed Yong

Tags: podcast , eponymous , paradox

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Streisand Effect

The Streisand Effect is the phenomenon where the harder someone tries to suppress information, the more attention it ends up getting. The term originated in early internet culture after Barbra Streisand attempted to suppress photographs of her Malibu home in 2003 by suing a photographer. Before the lawsuit, the photo had been downloaded exactly six times. After the lawsuit became public? Over 400,000 views in a single month.4 What was meant to be hidden instead became famous.

In July 2025, The Epstein Files consumed much of the news cycle. Donald Trump and his administration had campaigned on the promise of releasing these files to the public. But Trump seemingly flip-flopped on the issue, instead urging his followers to simply "move on." The result: a rift in the MAGA world. Far-right activist Laura Loomer remarked, "The more Truth Social posts that are posted about this are going to create a Streisand effect."


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References:

  1. Definition: Streisand Effect
  2. Wikipedia: Streisand effect
  3. Politico: Playbook: Trump world searches for off-ramp on Epstein
  4. Techdirt: Turns Out Barbra Streisand Is Aware Of The Streisand Effect, But Seems Confused About It
  5. Independent: Fox & Friends does just what Trump wants – they pretend the Epstein fiasco doesn’t exist

Tags: slang , politics , eponymous , internet , netspeak

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tactical frivolity

Tactical frivolity is a form of political protest that uses humor and absurdity as deliberate tactics to undermine authority, defuse tension, and attract public attention.

The term dates back to the 1990s with movements like Reclaim the Streets [1] in the UK and groups like the Pink Fairies who protested the 27th G8 summit in Genoa.

In October 2025, the term is also being used to describe protests directed toward ICE in Portland with some protesters dressing in costumes.


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References:

  1. Extinction Rebellion Deutschland: Tactical Frivolity and Samba Drumming
  2. Wikipedia: Tactical frivolity
  3. The Atlantic: Portland’s ‘War Zone’ Is Like Burning Man for the Terminally Online
  4. Democracy Now!: Anti-ICE Protesters in Portland Don Inflatable Costumes to Mock Trump’s “War Zone” Rhetoric
  5. Le Monde: Portland activists use humor to counter Trump's apocalyptic portrayal of the city
  6. Wikiwand: Tactical frivolity

Tags: vocabulary , politics

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thagomizer

A thagomizer is a bit of paleontology jargon referring to the spikes on a stegosaurian dinosaur.

When I was young, the Stegosaurus was my favorite type of dinosaur. I had no idea what the spikes were called until very recently though. I especially didn't know that the word was coined by none other than Gary Larson of Far Side fame.

In 1982, Gary Larson wrote a comic in which a caveman, perhaps in a teaching role, explains to an audience that these spikes were named "after the late Thag Simmons."


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References:

  1. Thagomizer: Why Stegosaurus’ Spiky Tail Was Named After A Cartoon
  2. Wikipedia: Thagomizer

Tags: dinosaur , stegosaurus , far side , paleontology , eponymous , comics

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The Hatch Act

The Hatch Act (1939) is a U.S. federal law[1] that restricts the political activities of government employees to ensure that federal programs are administered in a nonpartisan fashion.

It was named for Senator Carl Hatch of New Mexico who sponsored and introduced the bill.

In October 2025, The Hatch Act was in the news as the government shutdown continues and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem published a video to be shown in airports blaming Democrats[3].


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References:

  1. osc.gov: Hatch Act Overview
  2. Wikipedia: Hatch Act
  3. CNBC: Politics Kristi Noem’s shutdown airport video may violate Hatch Act, Sen. Cantwell warns
  4. Robert Reich: The Hatch Act? Wassat? Who cares?

Tags: legal , politics , eponymous

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"There's nothing more exhilarating than pointing out the shortcomings of others, is there?"

This is a quote from the 1994 movie "Clerks."


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References:

  1. IMDB: Clerks (quote)

Tags: quote , movie , clerks

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"This sounds schemey. Redolent of thwart."

Something that the character Tom Wambsgans says in the television series "Succession," in Season 2, Episode 8.


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References:

  1. IMDB: Succession

Tags: quote , television , succession

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tilt at windmills

To tilt at windmills means to fight or pursue some imaginary adversary.

I've always found idioms to be an interesting part of language and this is one of my favorites. In Jr. High, my class read/translated Don Quixote de la Mancha, which is where this expression comes from.


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References:

  1. Definition: tilt at windmills

Tags: idiom , Don Quixote , books

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trial balloon

A trial balloon is a metaphorical term describing a tentative action or statement meant to test reactions or explore possibilities before committing to a course of action. It's often used in diplomacy, politics, and awkward social situations, where one wants to gauge sentiment or diffuse tension without directly confronting the issue.

The phrase originates from the early days of hot-air ballooning in the late 18th century. British aeronauts would send up small, unmanned balloons as trial balloons to assess weather conditions, wind direction, and other factors before launching a manned flight. By the mid-19th century, the term was being used figuratively, particularly in politics, where governments or individuals would "float" proposals through unofficial channels to gauge public opinion before formally committing. Over time, it came to describe any cautious, preliminary step taken to assess outcomes.

I first heard this term in an interview with Bill Hader on the Where Everybody Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes) podcast. Hader shared a story about embarrassing himself by badmouthing a movie to someone who starred in it. To mend the social faux pas, he waited an hour and floated a trial balloon by saying, "Um, hey, they’re grilling some chicken over there."

He shared this awkward story with Larry David, who, of course, loved it -- particularly the hilariously ineffectual nature of the "trial balloon" attempt -- and encouraged him to repeat it often.


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References:

  1. Definition: trial balloon
  2. Podcast: Where Everyone Knows Your Name with Ted Danson and Woody Harrelson (sometimes), - Bill Hader
  3. Wikipedia: Trial Balloon

Tags: vocabulary , podcast , metaphor

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tribology

Tribology is the scientific study of friction, lubrication, and wear between interacting surfaces in relative motion. It blends principles from mechanical engineering, materials science, chemistry, and physics.

The word was coined in 1966 by British mechanical engineer Peter Jost in a report to the UK government titled "Lubrication (Tribology) - A Report on the Present Position and Industry’s Needs". The word is formed from the Greek root tribos meaning rubbing.

During a trip with my brother, he told me about a tribological analysis his firm performed along with a write-up they published and this is how I was introduced to the term.

While looking up the origins of the word tribology, I thought it would fit perfect in an episode of Archer. The characters often use absurdly niche references followed by incredulity when nobody knows the reference.

[Scene: ISIS HQ hallway, someone slips slightly on a recently waxed floor]

Lana: Whoa -- can we not buff the floors like an Olympic luge track?

Archer: Who are you, Peter Jost?

Lana: Who?

Archer: Peter Jost? The father of tribology??

[Everyone stares blankly]

Archer (muttering): Seriously guys, read a book! Well, actually an obscure UK lubrication report from 1966.


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References:

  1. Definition: tribology
  2. Science Direct: tribology
  3. Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers: What is Tribology
  4. "The Invention of Tribology: Peter Jost's Contribution" - by John Williams, Robinson College, University of Cambridge
  5. IMDB: Archer

Tags: science , vocabulary , jargon , engineering

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