July 17, 2005
"The Death Star is fully operational..."
Posted by Jess in
Geek Humor
One of the neat things about both Matt and myself being computer geeks is that we can tell each other about the projects we're both working on, and we can actually understand and even help each other out.
But it's the coding dilemmas, bugs, or extra special development challenges that we really talk about, mainly because we both can understand and appreciate the feeling of accomplishment once it has been solved.
Over time, our emails helping each other out or just listening have yielded a language of their own, mostly from movie quotes.
For example, Matt and I both know when the other is working on a grueling programming/application project. Maybe it's not working, or maybe it's just taking a long time. However, all it takes is one simple voice mail message, text page, or email with one line for a progress report that it’s working and time for celebration:
"The Death Star is fully operational!"
Here's some more and what they mean:
"Don't move until you see it... it's 10 moves away, but don't move until you see it!" - Searching for Bobby Fischer
This one is used when we're playing a game together that involves some sort of puzzle solving, and the other person has already figured it out. Both of us hate being given the answer, we like figuring it out on our own! But, if we need a little help, it's nice to know that at least one of us can solve it.
"Frosted Flakes!" - Tony the tiger
This one's used, surprisingly, if something's GREAT!
"Orange whip (pointing at someone)? Orange whip? (pointing at someone else) Three orange whips!" - The Blues Brothers
Pointing at people, whenever a count of who wants anything is involved!
"Magnavox"
Remember that old ad campaign of Magnavox? Smart. Really Smart. So if someone did or said something clever, that's the answer.
"Oh, I get it, stars above!" -Kung Pow, Enter the Fist
When something becomes clear and all of a sudden the pieces make sense. This is from a very funny scene in Kung Pow when the main character is begging a character for help, and is given a cryptic answer, "it's in the stars above". When he asks what the cryptic answer means, he's told "it's a riddle, doofus, it's not supposed to make sense now! So in the end, when you finally DO get it, you'll say, 'oh yeah, stars above, I get it!'
What are some of your phrases for certain things?
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Comments
"Ni!" Used as an expression of surprise, frustration, anger, amazement. (OK, that's just me, not a family thing.)
-rich
lol...
We're all big Fifth Element fans. "BZZZZZZZ" while simultaneously waving arms is another big one I forgot to mention. :-)
"I do not think that word means what you think it means" - Princess Bride
used to refer to a statement that is consistently proven untrue.
"That's no moon, it's a space station" - Star Wars and Twister
used when pointing out that the original conclusion was incorrect.
"you may not be fat, but I can see you're pushing maximum density" - The Breakfast Club
used just to pick on someone who is really thin but makes comments about themselves being fat
"Chick can't hold her smoke, that's what it is" - The Breakfast Club
used to indicate that the girls can't do everything the boys can....especially girl programmers....LOL
Sean---
>>used to indicate that the girls can't do everything the boys can....especially girl programmers....LOL
"Only Stormtroopers are so precise" - Ben Kenobi in Star Wars, referring to the jawas being shot.
Usually said sarcastically to point out how off someone is... as nary a Stormtrooper made a single shot in the rest of the movies. LOL.. :D
"[object]? We don't need no steenkeeng [object]!" (Brooks, not Bogart so much)
Used in pair programming and code review to indicate one has spotted an inefficient and roundabout way of doing something simple.
"Not THE Wat Dabney?" (Michael Palin as Dennis Cooper, "Jabberwocky")
Upon meeting someone that I've never heard of, but whom everyone (including the subject person) thinks I should know. Precisely one person in 25 years has replied, "the very same, lad."
"Order some golf shoes" (Original continues: " otherwise we'll never get outta this place alive..."; must never be used in practice.) (Duke, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas)
Roughly translates as "this place is startin' to weird me out. What's say we skedaddle?"
"The Eagle has landed"
Used whenever I pull off a particularly difficult winner when playing tennis.
Can I just say "Beam me up Scotty"?
Sad
I know, wasn't it? But he made it live on, spreading the love at conventions and things. Amazing. He also had an amazing story to tell about one girl he helped in the documentary Trekkies.
I didn't know -- until I read his obit -- that he was wounded on the beach at Normandy.
I love your blog. :)
It's a nice break from all the technical "geek speak" I read all day. :)
"My name is Inigo Montoya", "I know something you don't know" or "I am not left handed"... all of these mean "I've got you now!"
"Mawwiage. Mawwiage is wot bwings us togever today"... Ok, this doens't mean anything in particular, really, but sometimes we just can't resist saying it.
"It goes to eleven"... This one has several meanings, but the most usual one is "He hasn't got a clue, but just humor him".
-rich
Thanks Brian!! :-)
Richard, don't even get me started on my wedding with the princess bride quotes. :-)
i would recommend to you to shut...
