56 Acronyms and Initialisms - mental_floss on YouTube (Ep.7)

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  • Опубліковано 23 кві 2013
  • Initialisms and acronyms are a gwtsalwualol (Great way to say a lot without using a lot of letters).
    A weekly show hosted by John Green, where knowledge junkies get their fix of trivia-tastic information. This week, John sorts through a number of acronyms and initialisms such as M&M's, SCUBA, and the USA PATRIOT act.
    Mental Floss Video on Twitter: / mf_video
    Artist acknowledgements for this episode:
    XBOX textile artwork by Danica Johnson, dft.ba/-SaysDanica
    Circus Sideshow Nesting Dolls, Gravlax, dft.ba/-Gravlax
    8 bit perler bouquets, Geekapalooza, dft.ba/-Geekapalooza
    Doctor Who (9, 10 & 11), Hank & John, Sherlock & Watson wooden dolls, by Kimmy Fiorentino, dft.ba/-maddasahatterr
    ----
    Website: www.mentalfloss.com
    Twitter: / mental_floss
    Facebook: / mentalflossmagazine

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,9 тис.

  • @ordeloliveros5999
    @ordeloliveros5999 10 років тому +21

    Darling, Fetch The Battle Axe.

  • @th3giv3r
    @th3giv3r 9 років тому +34

    DFTBA: Don't Forget to Bring Alcohol?

    • @agustinvenegas5238
      @agustinvenegas5238 5 років тому +1

      Really goes to show my current mood when I prefer it that way...

  • @shoshana5869
    @shoshana5869 6 років тому +3

    "You are being redundant. Also, you are saying an unnecessary amount of words" 😂😂

  • @sooh6299
    @sooh6299 10 років тому +12

    Can NOT believe TARDIS wasn't one of the acronyms... Severely disappointed!

  • @BirdieRumia
    @BirdieRumia 10 років тому +5

    This one will always have my favorite opening... "Hey, there, kilted Wil Wheaton. Felicia Day, always a pleasure to see you..."

  • @o76923
    @o76923 9 років тому +6

    SAT used to stand for Scholastic Aptitude Test. Then a bunch of educational psychologists started doing research and found that it doesn't measure scholastic aptitude and to avoid a big media kerfuffle which could damage PR they just eliminated the acronym so now it doesn't stand for anything. As a result, SAT Test is no longer redundant.

  • @jarrod1503
    @jarrod1503 9 років тому +42

    ACRONYM
    Abbreviated Or Coded Rendition Of Name Yielding Meaning

    • @grabern
      @grabern 9 років тому +1

      What's an AOCRONYM?

    • @jarrod1503
      @jarrod1503 9 років тому

      sorry i wasnt meant to capitalise "Or".

    • @grabern
      @grabern 9 років тому

      Jarrod K XD

    • @jrivers0005
      @jrivers0005 4 роки тому

      NFW... No _______ way!

  • @celloplyr4lyfe
    @celloplyr4lyfe 11 років тому +5

    I definitely heard "Thanks for watching menopause" at the end there. I was a little big confused for a second.

  • @blowfishz
    @blowfishz 8 років тому +12

    You forgot that Benoit B. Mandelbrot's middle initial stood for "Benoit B. Mandelbrot".
    The B in Benoit Benoit B Mandelbrot Mandelbrot is of course, Benoit B Mandelbrot.

  • @fiddlerjones84
    @fiddlerjones84 10 років тому +12

    Abbreviation
    Consisting of
    Retroactively
    Organized
    Notions for
    Your
    Memory

  • @alexaliona
    @alexaliona 8 років тому +10

    it means someone REALLY wanted our initials to spell 'SHIELD'

  • @EpIcXxMoDzxX
    @EpIcXxMoDzxX 11 років тому

    This channel is growing fast, keep up the good work and you'll shine in the spotlight of youtube.

  • @derhochwohlgeborene8548
    @derhochwohlgeborene8548 9 років тому +5

    S.o.s. originally had no meaning, it just accomplished because it is such an easy morse code. Save our soles was added later on to finally give it a meaning.

    • @nicolasmakarian2349
      @nicolasmakarian2349 9 років тому +1

      Souls. Soles are in shoes.

    • @JustAnne27
      @JustAnne27 9 років тому +5

      Nicolas Makarian you've obviously never had faulty shoes or you'd understand

  • @headrockbeats
    @headrockbeats 9 років тому +12

    The Wil Wheaton / Felicia Day poster is one of the most disturbing things I've ever seen. Thank you.

  • @jrivers0005
    @jrivers0005 4 роки тому +1

    Ah, the Truman trivia piece... One of the very few clear childhood memories I have... My aunt and grandmother would often include me in Trivial Pursuit sessions when I was very young. This created the illusion that I was brilliant and resulted in me being placed in my school's gifted and talented program. What a disappointment I must have been!

  • @Zwickerly2
    @Zwickerly2 10 років тому +1

    The guy in charge of the USA's acronyms is a genius.

  • @DataSolo
    @DataSolo 10 років тому +4

    a lot of those should have been filed as pseudonyms

  • @desertrose5613
    @desertrose5613 8 років тому +5

    The second R in JRR Tolkien is "Reuel", not "Reul".

  • @Qster1584
    @Qster1584 10 років тому

    As a Canadian Nerdfighter, I am so glad you showed L.M. Montgomery.

  • @TumiAkinDeko
    @TumiAkinDeko 11 років тому

    Every time I see that companion cube on the wall, it makes my day.
    Your videos do too. :3

  • @lindseyp6032
    @lindseyp6032 10 років тому +3

    Lol, Darling, Fetch The Battle Axe

  • @dontbemessinboy
    @dontbemessinboy 10 років тому +4

    "When you say you are going to the ATM to type in your PIN number, you are being redundant. Also, you are using an unnecessary amount of words."
    God I love this show so much.

  • @InterestingBrady
    @InterestingBrady 11 років тому

    Dude, when he said "your fly is down," I looked down and it totally was. Thank John!

  • @hannairena3887
    @hannairena3887 11 років тому

    It is such a joy hearing John trying to pronounce something in swedish.

  • @faithmackriss3972
    @faithmackriss3972 10 років тому +5

    So the S. In Scuba stands for scuba. Ok

    • @Devo57
      @Devo57 5 років тому

      Faith Mackriss self-contained underwater breathing apparatus

    • @AmericanActionReport
      @AmericanActionReport 4 роки тому

      Faith Mackriss, you have sharp eyes. I had known it was Self Contained, etc., and failed to look at the words on the screen. Call it confirmation bias.

  • @kiraazun
    @kiraazun 8 років тому +5

    Hail Cthulhu

  • @feuilletoniste
    @feuilletoniste 11 років тому

    I thought it was 'digital versatile disc,' but I checked it and it turned out that you are completely correct, and that the other phrase was a 'backronym' (a phrase specifically constructed to fit a pre-existing word) which is my new temporary favourite word. So thanks for being part of my education!

  • @jackdeath
    @jackdeath 9 років тому +2

    +Andrew Barfield
    That's because the candy bar is based on the book about the three musketeers, who were all swordsmen, and a fourth member who was their apprentice, D'Artagnan. Special honored swordsmen in service to the king of France would sometimes be given the king's musket as a prize. That's how they were known as musketeers. It spoke to their skill as swordsmen with royal approval.
    (Spoiler alert! D'Artagnan would eventually earn his musket from the king a join their ranks as the fourth musketeer by the end of the book.)

  • @acaciaj5378
    @acaciaj5378 10 років тому +9

    VFD! VFD!

    • @SocialWalrus
      @SocialWalrus 10 років тому +3

      I didn't realize this was a sad occasion.

    • @acaciaj5378
      @acaciaj5378 10 років тому +2

      Zeke M Everything is always sad in the world.

    • @SocialWalrus
      @SocialWalrus 10 років тому +3

      Jillian N.
      But the world is quiet here.

    • @acaciaj5378
      @acaciaj5378 9 років тому +2

      Zeke M //sobs

  • @FrozenAmy
    @FrozenAmy 10 років тому +5

    I used to think FBI stood for Federal Police of America. fail... lol!!!

    • @zackshon
      @zackshon 10 років тому +1

      It stands for Flowers By Irene

  • @Xeroxias
    @Xeroxias 11 років тому

    "You are being redundant. Also, you are saying an unnecessary number of words."
    I love the writers of this show. The material is magnificent.

  • @SummerLeppanen
    @SummerLeppanen 11 років тому

    That painting is amazing.

  • @Merriwen
    @Merriwen 8 років тому +3

    TS Eliot is my great great uncle

    • @lawrencecalablaster568
      @lawrencecalablaster568 8 років тому

      That is amazing :D He is probably my favourite poet of all time. I thank you, genealogically, for the gift that is The Waste Land.

    • @jasonneu81
      @jasonneu81 7 років тому

      Yeah, sure... Because everyone on the internet tells the truth, right?

    • @lawrencecalablaster568
      @lawrencecalablaster568 7 років тому +1

      ***** I trust some people.

    • @Merriwen
      @Merriwen 7 років тому +1

      Jason Neu - why would I lie? It's also a really uncommon way of spelling Eliot, so most of the people with surname Eliot are all related... Except George Eliot as it was a pen name.

    • @jasonneu81
      @jasonneu81 7 років тому

      Katie Eliot Well basically everyone is related in some sense, I'm not accusing you of anything. All I'm saying is that we should always take stories from the internet with a grain of salt.

  • @jefferydavis7329
    @jefferydavis7329 9 років тому +3

    So, I hate myself for being this guy, but technically USAPATRIOTACT is a backronym. They started with the acronym they wanted "USAPATRIOTACT" then apparently worked their asses off trying to fit words that broadly made sense to it.

  • @btetschner
    @btetschner Рік тому

    Great video!
    I was not even aware some of those were acronyms.

  • @Tytoalba777
    @Tytoalba777 10 років тому +5

    NOPE NOPE NOPE! It's to late John! from now on, DFTBA is Darling, fetch the battle axe!

  • @ChronoVogon
    @ChronoVogon 9 років тому +3

    You had a companion cube on your wall and didn't mention GLaDOS?!

  • @agawthikkromance
    @agawthikkromance 9 років тому +7

    R.S.V.P. = Répondez s'il vous plaît
    (please reply) in french.

    • @TheTexas1994
      @TheTexas1994 6 років тому +1

      J'ai répondu en français

    • @jrivers0005
      @jrivers0005 4 роки тому

      French is such a sophisticated language! I would often just write "circle yes or no" at the end of my invitations (to romance, of course) as a youngster.

  • @jemroko7887
    @jemroko7887 11 років тому

    I did not know all that. thank you for knowledge, and dude your really funny. I enjoy watching your videos. Thank you.

  • @amandabriffett8595
    @amandabriffett8595 11 років тому

    Holy crap the giant painting of Will Wheaton and Felicia Day from The Guild in the salon.
    Made my day.

  • @minnietrethewey
    @minnietrethewey 11 років тому

    I give a thumbs up for the salon decorations in this one!

  • @bongmanding
    @bongmanding 11 років тому

    I love these videos. I am now following this awesome guy on FB. I wish I were as smart as him.

  • @brokenblondehart
    @brokenblondehart 11 років тому

    Also, I have that style guide EB White wrote for my journalism class and I'd wondered all semester if it was the same EB White. Thank you for clearing that up.

  • @ShadofofaMermaid
    @ShadofofaMermaid 10 років тому

    This channel is lovely! :D

  • @keptinkirk9581
    @keptinkirk9581 11 років тому

    John Green you are awesome.

  • @yesenias7210
    @yesenias7210 11 років тому

    John green compliments TD and my life is complete.

  • @highmetalman6
    @highmetalman6 11 років тому

    Thanks, John. Once again I get my daily fill of useless information. You have one of the best UA-cam channels of all time and I wish someone would back you and get you onto T.V. If Tosh can do it by using his humor to make fun of things, you can use your smarts and enlighten us all. Thanks again, John. Amazing videos, keep them coming!!

  • @gbnas
    @gbnas 10 років тому

    i could go to sleep...but i think I'll keep watching these instead.

  • @MysteriumArcanum
    @MysteriumArcanum 10 років тому +2

    R.I.P. -Requiescat in pace, which is Latin for rest in peace

  • @XxRHCP4lifexX
    @XxRHCP4lifexX 11 років тому

    im going to remember about 3 of these

  • @samanthabyrnes6608
    @samanthabyrnes6608 10 років тому

    thank you for mentioning Chester A. Arthur! i did a school report on him and not even the history textbooks mention him.

  • @nrm1298xx
    @nrm1298xx 11 років тому +1

    When John said "Thanks for watching Mental Floss" at the end, I heard "Thanks for watching menopause".... Biology, what have you done to me???

  • @Stepherus
    @Stepherus 11 років тому

    I love that you knew the Trio's middle names

  • @tuseroni
    @tuseroni 11 років тому

    having just watched all of the guild i had to come back to this episode to see the poster and see if it was the prop from the show or the poster from thinkgeek, it seems to be the latter, but never the less awesome!

  • @phoenixliv
    @phoenixliv 11 років тому

    OMG the painting from the guild :o AMAZING!!!!!

  • @07leprechaun
    @07leprechaun 11 років тому

    How many of us were waiting the whole video to hear DFTBA? Glad he came through in the end :)

  • @Megotopolis
    @Megotopolis 11 років тому

    I love that last one.

  • @meligarrett9197
    @meligarrett9197 4 роки тому

    “The Fault in Our Stars” is an awesome movie!

  • @benjaminsehrer2490
    @benjaminsehrer2490 10 років тому +2

    When your waiter gets their TIPS for the night it was "To Insure Prompt Service."

    • @benjaminsehrer2490
      @benjaminsehrer2490 10 років тому

      LED is Light Emitting Diode...

    • @abra238
      @abra238 10 років тому

      omg. thank you, sir.

    • @lynnesmith6519
      @lynnesmith6519 4 роки тому

      That also is incorrect as it should be "ensure"

  • @Judgementday3010
    @Judgementday3010 4 роки тому

    I love the painting from the Guild. I should get me one.

  • @solarflare102
    @solarflare102 11 років тому

    I approve of all today's wall decorations.

  • @hippiechik95
    @hippiechik95 11 років тому

    Why does every dive I take into the realm of UA-cam eventually come back to Mental_floss? This time I got here from Nico Nico Chorus vids...

  • @jackfrost6313
    @jackfrost6313 11 років тому

    I am sooo subbing!

  • @eoindly
    @eoindly 11 років тому

    Proud to have known.....about four of these

  • @LezbeOswald
    @LezbeOswald 11 років тому

    When he says "thanks for watching Mental_floss" at the end, I think he says "thanks for watching menopause"... Surely I can't be the only one.

  • @moonlady3000
    @moonlady3000 11 років тому

    Commenting before watching.... But I just have to mention the romance novel Fawkes/Codex thing REALLY threw me for a loop xD Been a while since I've seen it ans was NOT expecting it to turn up in John Green's salon.

  • @KineticColor
    @KineticColor 11 років тому

    I LURVE MENTAH FLERWSH

  • @ethansandstedt1551
    @ethansandstedt1551 11 років тому

    This is the best way to describe smart people like ourselves.

  • @vatnidd
    @vatnidd 11 років тому

    Couldn't stop watching menopause!

  • @cogo0847
    @cogo0847 11 років тому +1

    You fetch your own battle ax, John! I'm busy remembering to be awesome!
    Also: you're super cool

  • @SummerLeppanen
    @SummerLeppanen 11 років тому

    ALSO have you ever read P.G. Wodehouse's autobiography "Over Seventy" where he talks about how much he hates his name, and how his siblings all have terrible names too? It's pretty great. I love that guy.

  • @GGliorF123
    @GGliorF123 11 років тому

    I have a related question: If I read from an electronic device (like kindle fire. Not an ink view one like the older kindles) does it make my eyes worse?

  • @Fake0Name
    @Fake0Name 11 років тому

    ASIC(s) stands for application specific integrated circuit(s).
    Is there a brand with the same name?

  • @sternenblumen9250
    @sternenblumen9250 8 років тому +1

    Random fact about Adidas: The rival company Puma was actually founded by Adi Dassler's brother Rudolf - they used to lead Adidas together (then under a different name) until the brothers had a falling-out. They supposedly did not speak to each other again until their death.
    (I'm not sure why I even know that, having never owned a single pair of shoes from either company ...)

    • @ANDROLOMA
      @ANDROLOMA 3 роки тому

      Did they speak together again after their deaths? 🤔

  • @Turb0Hawk
    @Turb0Hawk 9 років тому +1

    Darling Fetch The Battle Axe ... That one killed e (pun intended)

  • @MangaAnimeJapan
    @MangaAnimeJapan 11 років тому

    Lovin' the Companion Cube.

  • @carolinevs943
    @carolinevs943 4 роки тому

    What kind of salon is it?

  • @sydneysnemo
    @sydneysnemo 11 років тому

    could you do a video on the British-American relations, history, cultural differences?? And I would love something about Art - anyhow I love your videos!! You guys are awesome!

  • @brooklynbuglet
    @brooklynbuglet 10 років тому

    nope, now DFTBA is now forever going to be Darling Fetch the Battle Axe. That is too awesome!

  • @CombatGuru
    @CombatGuru 11 років тому

    I watch it out of a burning desire to learn. A constant drive to increase my knowledge - and because when you're stuck at a work camp 600km from home, there's not much else to do other than eat and work out (and I've already done my workout for the day, dinner isn't for another hour).

  • @OtherThanIntendedPurpose
    @OtherThanIntendedPurpose 4 роки тому

    a funny one: people in California looked down on the name of a southern store chain, so when Joey Franco brought his store west, he change the Piggly Wiggly to Joey Franco's PW super

  • @weirdlittlekid
    @weirdlittlekid 11 років тому

    what does DVD stand for?

  • @hyelin25
    @hyelin25 11 років тому

    I'm actually wearing ASICS sneakers right now. Thanks for the info on where the name came from. I actually didn't even know that it was an initialism until now.

  • @Lamp512
    @Lamp512 11 років тому

    i love it, i dont see anything wrong with it

  • @smoaT
    @smoaT 11 років тому

    Oh my God... can't believe we read the same webpage... amazing book

  • @toshi_ca
    @toshi_ca 11 років тому

    I wonder if the decorations in the background change from episode to episode? That would make an interesting meta-game.

  • @21931788
    @21931788 11 років тому

    informative video. thanks for posting!

  • @Venezia
    @Venezia 10 років тому

    I love how the first thing I saw was Felicia Day and Wil Wheaton in the picture behind John - awesome :3

  • @solath
    @solath 11 років тому

    The last one can also be "Beyond all Recognition". I posted those in hopes of prodding John to do a follow-up as well as the story of the origin of the acronyms. I believe the last 2 are both from WWII.

  • @marykaypohlschneider7414
    @marykaypohlschneider7414 9 років тому

    I'm a food geek and somewhat of a chocolate historian - Bruce Murrie was William Murrie's son. William was the president of Hershey but was by no means the Hershey fortune. As I understand it, he was passed over to become CEO when Milton Hershey stepped down late in life.

  • @14000100104
    @14000100104 11 років тому

    Where should I leave the battle axe?

  • @Geffosome
    @Geffosome 10 років тому +1

    That pinkberry is in egypt!!!! finally something were good for, and the shop to the left is a starbucks and its in a place called dandy mall

  • @amschu04
    @amschu04 11 років тому

    ginger bilius whatshisface is now my favorite line

  • @kphifer97
    @kphifer97 11 років тому

    Decepticons fear this brilliant autobot

  • @TheSentientCloud
    @TheSentientCloud 11 років тому

    I think the first sign that I'm addicted to portal is that the very first thing I noticed in the video was the companion cube >.>

  • @random66849
    @random66849 11 років тому

    That pickaxe and sword made me subscribe. :3

  • @eoindly
    @eoindly 11 років тому

    Hahaha he said corparo [incorrectly] instead of corpare
    we love you John

  • @jarhead0627
    @jarhead0627 10 років тому

    I really want a "Darling fetch the battle axe" t-shirt

  • @TheSoloFrenzy
    @TheSoloFrenzy 11 років тому

    AHHH. Every time he says"thanks for watching Mental Floss" I think he's saying "thanks for watching menopause". Ha. Have fun forever hearing that.

  • @lotrjesusfreak
    @lotrjesusfreak 11 років тому

    Darling Fetch The Battle Ax is definitely my favorite DFTBA initalism in Hank's song!