Benchmark

"An inaccurate measure of computer performance. “In the computer industry, there are three kinds of lies: lies, damn lies, and benchmarks.” Well-known ones include Whetstone, Dhrystone, Rhealstone (see h), the Gabriel LISP benchmarks, the SPECmark suite, and LINPACK. See also machoflops, MIPS, smoke and mirrors." [The Jargon File]

Reading the above definition from the Jargon File, I feel a bit ashamed of saying this, but that is what I'm supposed to work on these days, benchmarking, grid benchmarking to be precise. Though it is not as bad as ESR says, we are not all 100% liers, believe me! ;)