(excl.) Acronym for “Bonuses Are Back,” the enthusiastic cry of bankers (many from U.S. banks that paid TARP back) getting bonuses again (after a very limited hiatus) as a result of a surprisingly good year on Wall Street, despite the continuing U.S. and global economic woes.
Echoing Americans’ frustration with political leaders, the U.S. economic leaders in both the public and private sector have come under scrutiny and blame for the nation’s ills. And while anger still... more
(n.) The act of blaming bankers for the nation’s financial woes.
(n.) Mismanaging a bank into collapse through reckless indifference.
(n.) The phenomenon of individuals and companies making money from anything involving President Barack Obama, whether honoring or demonizing him.
Following the grassroots momentum of President Obama’s election, activism has reached a groundswell across the political spectrum. Whether demanding smaller government, greater economic regulation or... more
(n.) A type of business trip where you add on leisure time either through additional days or leisure activities throughout the trip.
(n.) Pretending to care and share the same heightened enthusiasm when in a conversation with someone who is passionate about a cause or belief that you don’t really care about.
(n.) The U.S. Government rebate program intended to stimulate the economy and boost the ailing automotive industry by encouraging consumers to trade in their older cars for a rebate toward newer, more eco-friendly cars.
(n.) Apple’s censorship of iPhone applications with sexually suggestive themes, conducted in response to user complaints.
The 2000s saw a score of major advances in technology, leading to high consumer expectations. Whereas, in past decades, tech geeks were the first adapters and biggest critics, nowadays technology is... more
(v.) To donate to a cause by sending a text message. The donated amount is simply added to your mobile bill. (e.g., Haiti 90999)
As people continue to invest more personal time in online activities and as new location-based social media innovations are introduced, it’s clear that the line between our physical and virtual worlds... more
(n.) A term coined by British financial historian Niall Ferguson that refers to the international super-economy created by the intertwining of the Chinese and American economies.
(n.) A shopper who expects a discount on everything she purchases, regardless of the item, the store or the economy.
(n.) Last-minute costs added on at the end of an online transaction.
(n.) Parents’ attempt to keep the household at status quo so children don’t feel the impact of the family’s economic woes.
(n.) The acceptance of blame by someone who is only partially at fault, which prevents acknowledging and resolving the true cause of a problem.
(n.) An airline flight from hell that includes trauma that ranges from long delays on the tarmac or in the air, rude flight attendants, misinformation or lack of information from the cockpit crew.
Despite the new era of responsibility, bad behavior and scandals continue. After seeing so many long-respected people, organizations and companies caught red-handed, people are no longer surprised... more
(n.) A fee-free service that also offers premium, paid features (e.g., Pandora).
(n.) A device that doesn’t quite meet the standards to be a full-blown laptop or smart phone (e.g., iPad).
(n.) New technologies, applications or platforms that many claim are replicas of existing products.
(n.) A “group coupon” via Groupon.com, where subscribers are offered special daily deals. If enough people participate, the discount is provided.
(n.) Young urban Americans who are becoming increasingly involved in community activism and volunteerism.
The last couple years have taught us many lessons, one being that each of us needs to take responsibility for the future. In the past, the focus was on environmental sustainability, but today, the concept... more
(n.) The inclination to wish for the best possible outcome.
(n.) Acronym for “I’ll be gone, you’ll be gone,” the thought behind short-sighted and often selfish decisions often practiced pre-recession by those running an organization or business who have no regard for long-term consequences.
(n.) The disappointment over Apple’s product life cycle, prompted by the release of the iPad.
(n.) The nationwide censorship of search engines and websites such as Google imposed in countries like China.
(n.) The phenomenon of the Great Recession wherein a greater percentage of men are losing jobs compared to women.
For the past several decades, discussion of evolving gender roles focused primarily on women taking on traditionally male roles. Today, as roles of both men and women shift, swap and even splice together... more
(n.) A scandal involving a man behaving badly.
(n.) A campaign launched by Arianna Huffington as a way to challenge the current banking system and to support community banks by urging Americans to move their money from the “too big to fail” banks into smaller community banks.
(n.) A meeting with a potential employer that is initially described as an interview for employment, but that turns out to be merely informational, much to the potential candidate’s disappointment and confusion.
Slang words are no longer specific to any one place or subculture. Today, our lives are so intertwined around the globe through media and technology that a new catchphrase can spread like wildfire.... more
(n.) An exaggerated public or media outcry to a revealed fact or incident that causes the story to remain in the spotlight for an excessive period of time.
(n.) A name for the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico off the Louisiana coast.
(v.) To spread resources too thinly across an organization in an effort to save on costs, usually resulting in poor performance, production and quality.
(n.) Acronym for the European Union countries Portugal, Italy, Ireland, Greece and Spain that are financially weak.
(v.) To leave something good but unexpected in a stranger’s possession. Done recreationally in the past, it was adopted as a marketing tactic by British phone carrier TalkTalk in August 2009, as well as others.
(n.) A sub-generation of young adults whose habits and views on lifestyle, economy and spending are expected to be shaped by the Great Recession, similar to the Great Depression generation.
(v.) A recession-focused discussion about the economy.
(n.) Anxiety experienced by many Americans who have realized that every financial decision they make today affects their credit scores and will have long-term implications for their financial options and burdens in the future.
(n.) The freezing of non-essential personal spending in order to save money or to prevent a stuffalanche.
(n.) The overwhelming experience of accumulating too much stuff.
(n.) The over-confidence that comes when driving an all-wheel-drive vehicle, specifically a Subaru, in inclement weather.
(n.) The public scandal surrounding Tiger Woods’s philandering and domestic incident/car crash.
(n.) Nickname for Umar Farouk Abdul Matallab, the terrorist who unsuccessfully attempted to blow up a plane en route to Detroit from Amsterdam on Christmas Day 2009 using a bomb hidden in his underwear.
(n.) The financial and economic system that led to the recession, wherein the reallocation of assets, rather than the creation, growth or nurturing of assets, was rewarded.