Jargon Watch
Brain Fart A byproduct of a bloated mind producing information effortlessly. A burst of useful information. "I know you're busy on the Microsoft story, but could you give us a brain fart on the Mitnik bust?" Variation of old hacker slang that had more negative connotations.
Cobweb Site A World Wide Web site that hasn't been updated for a long time. A dead Web page.
Clickstreams The paths a user takes as he or she navigates cyberspace. Advertisers and online media providers are developing software that can accurately track users' clickstreams.
Permalancer A permanent freelancer. A person hired on a per-project basis who lives a benefits-free existence.
Irritainment Annoying entertainment and media spectacles you're unable to stop watching. O.J. is a prime example.
It's a Feature From the adage "It's not a bug, it's a feature." Used sarcastically to describe an unpleasant experience that you wish to gloss over.
Keyboard Plaque The disgusting buildup of dirt and crud found on computer keyboards. "Are there any other terminals I can use? This one has a bad case of keyboard plaque."
Velveeta A Usenet posting, often commercial in nature, excessively cross-posted to a large number of newsgroups. Similar to Spam, although that term is often used to describe an identical post that's been loaded onto lots of inappropriate newsgroups, one group at a time (rather than cross-posted).
A tip o' the gimme cap to Bruce Francis, Marjorie Ingall, Jeet Singh, jeffreyp, Todd Lappin, and Charles Daniels.
