I am probably going to be completely booed but I wanted to make sure this view was heard.
While longer variable names can be more descriptive they can begin to mire the original intent of the program. I feel that on API elements it is important to have clear and meaningful names in the context that they will be used.
Within each function or method this is often a different story. I try to write less and keep it very terse. This is known as spartan programming al a Mr. Atwood and this nifty example. Yes, the example is clearly rigged but it does demonstrate how having a little less ceremony can actually make reading the program easier.
Good luck.
