Jargon Watch
Begathon
A TV or radio fund-raiser for a charity, religious organization, or PBS station that employs every known form of guilt, sweet talking, and outright begging to get people to fork over dough.
Cross-Roasting
The act of following up a message posted to a Usenet newsgroup by adding one or more additional newsgroups to the response in an effort to bring the original post to the attention of those likely to flame it. For example, in a follow-up to a particularly over-the-top feminist rant, a cross-roaster might add the post to alt.mens-rights and soc.men.
Gray Matter
Older, experienced business people hired by young entrepreneurial firms looking to appear more reputable and established.
Kobrigram
A legal threat letter sent in response to someone's online actions or statements. Coined in homage to Helena Kobrin, a Church of Scientology lawyer who's been threatening copyright and infringement lawsuits against those posting "secret" church documents.
Pharming
Short for pharmaceutical farming. The process of genetically engineering crops to protect them or their consumers from disease. For example, researchers at Texas A&M and Tulane University have genetically altered potatoes to include antigenic material from E. coli bacteria, one cause of diarrhea. Theoretically, such potatoes could both feed people in developing countries and vaccinate them against E. coli.
YODA
Young Opinionated Directionless Artiste. An arts major or related hanger-on who lingers in coffeehouses spewing strong opinions and perennial wisdom without doing much to make a difference.
- Gareth Branwyn jargon@ Wired.com
Tip o' the yarmulke to: Fraser Cain, Karl Mamer, and Dan Pink.
