Abbreviations are very culturally specific.

If you don’t believe me, think of all the short cuts that have become almost common place since the advent of cell phone txt [ing]. See, right there my first inclination was to use txt instead of text since saving a letter when using the old number pad substitutions made a significant difference. Today with virtual keyboards, not so much.

Then there are all those abbreviations which go with the military. I will not bore you here. If you are, have been or related to a service member you have probably already had your fill.

Organizations look for spiffy combinations of names so that the acronym for the organization will be memorable and relevant. If it hangs around for decades or enters the general vocabulary, all to the good.

Where am I going with all of this? I first met CBD in Sydney and didn’t have a clue. Decided either it wasn’t important or relevant, promptly forgetting all about it. But it kept showing up over and over in Australia then in New Zealand.

It finally twigged in Wellington because I was logging into cbdnet. Hello? Where was I? The Central Business District and this was the free wifi in the downtown district. And if CBD doesn’t = what I think it does? Don’t tell me. Right now I am happy thinking I have a clue!