Website Creation - What do I look for in order to find how to make a website of a particular type; the sort that is a background image with no visible links; but hovering over an item in, and then clicking over an item in, the background image acts as a link? I'm sure there's loads of instructions out there but I can't even find a site to show what I mean, letalone use search terms that return any kind of meaningful results! [more inside]
posted by DrtyBlvd on Oct 3, 2009 - 7 answers

What is the shorthand to order a Mexican Martini without olive juice at a bar that inexplicably decided it was a good idea to add it to every Mexican Martini they make? [more inside]
posted by Swifty on Sep 30, 2009 - 15 answers

I need an argument settled over the proper title for each of these relatives: (1) Your great-aunt's children, (2) Your cousin's children. Are they both called second cousin or cousin once removed, or something completely different?
posted by (bb|[^b]{2}) on Sep 19, 2009 - 20 answers

Which are the words that refer to the genital organs in Swedish? I've been told that Swedish has a "neutral" sexual/anatomic terminology that is neither vulgar, nor childish, nor medical/technical. "They call it like we call a nose a nose, and a leg a leg". [more inside]
posted by megob on Sep 13, 2009 - 12 answers

I am working on republishing a 19th century memoir but I have come across a few terms I don't understand. Please help me figure out if they are typos in the original manuscript or real terms. [more inside]
posted by clockworkjoe on Sep 2, 2009 - 22 answers

A few years ago I formulated a sociological theory about the evolution of terms used to refer to those afflicted by certain classes of disabilities, whether physical or mental, in which more functional members of the class resent being "bundled" with less functional members and are hence in a constant, mostly subconscious, quest for differentiation. This leads to development of ever more benign terms ("handicapable!") which themselves quickly become associated with the whole, therefore perpetuating the cycle. The theory seemed obvious to me when I thought of it, but I've yet to see it espoused or debunked elsewhere. Have you? Or, failing that, do you see any obvious arguments for or against it? [more inside]
posted by The Confessor on Aug 8, 2009 - 23 answers

Is there a term for the fallacy of "false synonymy", where two different words are treated as if they mean the same thing? "False synonymy" sounds like a good term for it, but Google only turns up 135 hits.
posted by Dr. Send on Jul 29, 2009 - 19 answers

Throughput, download speed, bandwidth, or something else -- which of these am I trying to say? I can download a huge file, topping speeds of around 140 KB/s. Is 140 KB/s my maximum download speed? And isn't that speed the same for all information I can receive, or just file transfers? [more inside]
posted by Quarter Pincher on Jun 4, 2009 - 16 answers

What is the name for this type of fence? Fairly thin metal posts with lots of tabs punched out onto which a large metal mesh can be placed (not chain link) and fastened. (And where can I get some?) [more inside]
posted by imposster on May 31, 2009 - 11 answers

SEO for a product known by different names in different English-speaking countries? [more inside]
posted by AmbroseChapel on Apr 23, 2009 - 3 answers

Is it still, technically, a cover song when the original songwriter records a track that they wrote for someone else? [more inside]
posted by SansPoint on Apr 4, 2009 - 17 answers

Is the "hip pocket" the front pocket or the back pocket? [more inside]
posted by exceptinsects on Feb 15, 2009 - 53 answers

Vocabularyfilter: I am looking for some near-synonyms for "binary" and "analog" but without the techie sheen those both have. [more inside]
posted by ricochet biscuit on Jan 8, 2009 - 23 answers

What Does Pre-Roll Mean? [more inside]
posted by Ironmouth on Oct 1, 2008 - 15 answers

Did the term "Archie Bunkers" for the detached houses in Queens, NY come from "All in the Family," or did Norman Lear name the character after the term?
posted by SansPoint on Aug 22, 2008 - 5 answers

Is there a (preferably single-word) term that picks out every part of a character except the serif? [more inside]
posted by miniape on Jul 20, 2008 - 9 answers

Is there a name for the small scene that comes at the end of a film--after the credits? [more inside]
posted by ColdChef on May 6, 2008 - 17 answers

What is the musical term for songs that feature overlapping or simultaneous verses? The only two examples that I can think of to illustrate what I'm talking about are "All for the Best" from Godspell and Irving Berlin's "You're in Love." Anyone ever come across a list of songs of this type, specifically songs from the world of musical theater?
posted by trivirgata on Feb 28, 2008 - 39 answers

Software for keeping lists of terms and definitions organized? Help me tame the glossary monster. [more inside]
posted by gemmy on Dec 20, 2007 - 4 answers

Lit-crit/what the hell is the word I'm looking for? [more inside]
posted by jonmc on Dec 2, 2007 - 23 answers

when should I say 'african american' and when 'black' ? [more inside]
posted by krautland on Nov 16, 2007 - 71 answers

I'm trying to research the origin of the term "touchpoint" as it's used in this 2003 McKinsey quote: "Brands are delivered at touchpoints, which for a hotel include reservations, check-in and checkout, frequent-stay programs, room service, business services, exercise facilities, laundry service, restaurants, and bars." Today this term is widely used in the industry to describe the ways in which a customer comes into contact with a business, but I can't pin down exactly who coined it or how early it came to be used in this way... [more inside]
posted by Jeff Howard on Oct 29, 2007 - 4 answers

How does one say hotlink, download/save, and hosting provider in French, German, Japanese, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Hindi? [more inside]
posted by Mr. Gunn on Jun 4, 2007 - 16 answers

What's the comedic/facetious word/phrase for extremely high bandwidth as a result of just plain carrying a disk drive? I remember reading an article somewhere that referred to the high-latency, super-high-bandwidth transfer speeds obtained by just picking up a hard drive and taking it somewhere. I was thinking it was HAN (Human Area Network), but that apparently has a different meaning. I've seen the term in more than one place, so I know it wasn't just a one-off in that article, but try as I might (and google as I might) I can't remember the term.
posted by Bugbread on May 1, 2007 - 19 answers

I often hear people describing "lost revenue" when they mean "revenue that we expected to earn, but didn't." To me, this is an important distinction: if you never had something, you can't lose it. Is there an alternate term to describe what I'm talking about? "Missed revenue," perhaps?
posted by bingo on Jan 2, 2007 - 25 answers

Explain to me the popularity of "moonbat." [more inside]
posted by Astro Zombie on May 24, 2006 - 20 answers

I'm trying to recall a phrase, probably french in origin, that refers to the character of a specific period in a chess game when both sides have developed their pieces, but are loathe to attack. [more inside]
posted by Manjusri on Apr 2, 2006 - 9 answers

Two sisters give birth. The two children have the same father. [more inside]
posted by amusem on Jan 12, 2006 - 20 answers

Is there a term for overestimating the importance of something you happen to be good at? [more inside]
posted by jjg on Jan 5, 2006 - 18 answers

It's been six years. Do you have, or does anyone you know use a term, in conversation, comparable to 'the nineties' or 'the eighties' for this decade?
posted by airguitar on Jan 2, 2006 - 71 answers

Can someone break down skiing terminology in a way that isn't completely confusing? [more inside]
posted by Big Fat Tycoon on Dec 29, 2005 - 6 answers

Is there a single word to describe a fascination with things that are new for the sake of being new? [more inside]
posted by Wild_Eep on Nov 6, 2005 - 27 answers

Why is it that Internet Explorer is referred to as 'Mozilla/4.0'? And why is it that Safari, Opera et al. are referred to as 'Mozilla/5.0'?
posted by tenseone on Nov 27, 2004 - 11 answers

In conversation, how should I refer to my mom's boyfriend? (MI) [more inside]
posted by fricative on Nov 25, 2004 - 28 answers

What is the term for a "female metrosexual"? Ladette?
posted by magullo on Nov 10, 2004 - 23 answers

Is there a term to describe instances where a word has a single spelling, but multiple pronunciations based upon the definition needed? Some examples: wound, bass, read, etc. [more inside]
posted by mcsweetie on Oct 17, 2004 - 6 answers

Help needed for a complete programming novice. I'm trying to design a simple web page to help out a colleague.. (more inside) [more inside]
posted by ascullion on Oct 2, 2004 - 5 answers

I'm new to audio books. After I've listened to a book, can I say that I've "read" the book? What's the common parlance? Or must I draw a distinction between the books I've read and those I've heard? Why or why not? (And what about Braille? Are blind people said to have "read" books?)
posted by jdroth on Sep 8, 2004 - 10 answers

Is there a single-word noun that means "things that relate to blogs/are in the manner of blogs?" If not, any ideas for a made-up one?
posted by Nikolai on Jun 15, 2004 - 28 answers

You know that graphic element used on maps to show North, South, East and West - doe that have a name? (I can't think of it for the life of me...
posted by lilboo on May 13, 2004 - 11 answers

Anyone know of a good online glossary of radio news broadcast terminology...differentiating between expressions like "voice," a "cut," etc.? I'm a little rusty and need a refresher.
posted by inksyndicate on May 7, 2004 - 1 answer