Kunstler Glossary of Terms

[nissan03]

While reading Mr. Kunstler's weekly blog, I once again realized that a lot of the terms He has coined and frequently refer to might not make a lot of sense to a "newbie" to this realm.

This notion was comically reinforced as a young caller to a national radio broadcast asked the host to explain what a "cool aid drinker" was.

I would gladly purchase a booklet of Kunstlerisms, from Happy Motoring to Cheez Doodles and all the wonderfully descriptive and humorous terms used in Jim's books, His blog and on this forum.  I would also enjoy the memorable quotes that I believe Vooch has saved ( or direction to them ).

Maybe a tract form could be published for distribution at city councel meetings, ribbon cuttings, placing under windshield wipers of SUV's at Walmart.  Think of the possibilities.

I respect Mr. Kunstler's proprietary rights to terms and have know idea as to the nut and bolts of gathering the terms and defintions, publishing online or traditional book form.  Maybe this is just a screwball idea, but I think it would be great to hand to the zoning commission a tract from Jim after they block a variance to allow a child-care facility in a residental "zone".

[Duncan]

nissan03,

This is a great topic. I recorded a show a while back where we did a very brief Glossary of Nowhere.

But I think we could do a better job. I'd like to record a new podcast in the near future where we go through a much more extensive glossary of terms. So...everyone, please help me out by posting your favorite terms or expressions that Jim has coined. I'll ask Jim to define them on a future show. But you can also offer your own definition for the terms here as well. Sound good? Please post away.

[LarSue]

Oh, great idea!

My fave...  "Violent clowns" n. def:  Certain individuals in society who feign to be out-of-the-norm and defiant toward social norms and standards.  Often identified by their choice of clothing or uniform - unbelted baggy pants that fall to the mid-section of the buttocks.  May also display various types of body piercings and/or tatoos. 

[kwellada]

"Fossil Fuel Fiesta" - the party humans have enjoyed for the past 150 years that is based on easily recoverable cheap and plentiful energy

"Berm" - what your green space will actually turn out to be.

[voodoo_pork]

"The Great Automobile Slum" Kunstler's preferred term for much of sprawl America. My personal favorite.
"Cheese Doodle": Any chemically enhanced non-food food product soon to be extinct.
"Nature Band-aid": A use of cheap, pointless greenery to hide mutilated urban environments.
"UFO's": Those odd, pod-shaped building occupying gigantic parking lots.
"Parking Lagoons": Those gigantic parking lots.
"Family Chauffeur": Mom when kids reach age 12-16.
"Missing Teeth": Empty lots in an otherwise dense urban setting.
"Hannibal Lector School for Tots": Most schools in the US resemble prisons.

[oswegatchie]

Oh, great idea!

My fave...  "Violent clowns" n. def:  Certain individuals in society who feign to be out-of-the-norm and defiant toward social norms and standards.  Often identified by their choice of clothing or uniform - unbelted baggy pants that fall to the mid-section of the buttocks.  May also display various types of body piercings and/or tatoos. 

Also identifiable by their sheer numbers. So much for them being individuals who are unique in their defiance.

[David H]

We can't forget "fry pit", restaurants featuring deep fried food, most likely national chains with a drive through window.  They could also be defined as a source of alternative fuel that won't save us from the Long Emergency.

[digitalvision]

"Styrofoam Caskets" = Take out food containers

[ifthisbeterror]

Good thing we found another outgroup to ridicule!

[Perhaps, instead of paying attention to the obvious (outward) evidence of these young peoples' dissent, we might choose, instead, to see 'where they are' and what they might think about the issues us work-shirt-and-jeans-, billed cap-, and workboot-wearing older folk are concerned about.

We might be surprised.]

Oh, great idea!

My fave...  "Violent clowns" n. def:  Certain individuals in society who feign to be out-of-the-norm and defiant toward social norms and standards.  Often identified by their choice of clothing or uniform - unbelted baggy pants that fall to the mid-section of the buttocks.  May also display various types of body piercings and/or tatoos. 

[nissan03]

"in the country"
  Kunstler's mother describing anyplace where you cannot walk out your front door and hail a taxi.
A place where it seems a lot more people will be living and working in the future.

[bronorb]

Green Smoke. Usage: "Blowing Green Smoke up one's ass".

The use (and abuse) of climate change and other environmental concerns to cloud discussions about the real issues so that we can get back to talking about how we are going to drive our SUV's on something other than oil.

[SPinPA]

An obvious one:
The Long Emergency

A more recent one:
Zombie Money

Some other well-known but personal favorites of mine:
NIMBY - "not in my backyard"
BANANA - "build absolutely nothing anywhere anything"

I believe there is another funny acronym along the same line that I'm not remembering.

[slark]

This is a little off topic, but check out this Time photo essay on, get this, a grocery auction (there's money to be made for auctioneers doing this apparently). Photo number 5 has an auctioneer's assistant holding high a packet of Cheese Curls, which seem to be the same quasi-food concoction as Jim's favourite Cheese Doodles, with the US flag hanging high (but sagging somewhat) in the background. You can't make this stuff up...



Grocery Auction - Photo Essays - TIME
http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1891675_1869023,00.html

[Andy R]

"The Great Automobile Slum" Kunstler's preferred term for much of sprawl America. My personal favorite.

I think the term was actually "National Automobile Slum" and it is an apt description that can inspire realization for those who haven't noticed.
I know that having seen so much of it growing up, the ugliness of it never really struck me until I heard it articulated in the manner Kunstler has done so well.

Now I can't help but notice..

(paraphrasing Charlton Heston):
Damn you JHK!
Damn you to hell!! 

[John M.]

Oh, great idea!

My fave...  "Violent clowns" n. def:  Certain individuals in society who feign to be out-of-the-norm and defiant toward social norms and standards.  Often identified by their choice of clothing or uniform - unbelted baggy pants that fall to the mid-section of the buttocks.  May also display various types of body piercings and/or tatoos. 

This is by far my favorite.  What I like about Jim is he isn't afraid to poke fun at stuff like this.  What I might add is last time I was visiting Atlanta (my family is out there) I saw some of these violent clowns, dressed like babies, and one of them was sucking on a pacifier!  It was hard to tell, but I would estimate the guy was about 20.  He looked a LITTLE too old for high school, but not quite a full-fledged adult.

Austin seems to be the tattoo capital of the country.  I'm sure there are worse places, but it never ceases to amaze me what people will permanently put under their skin.